Two inmates escape from Rikers Island

Two Rikers Island inmates escape from the notorious NYC jail: One is captured in the East River and the other is loose in the Big Apple

  • Police were alerted just after one 1pm that two inmates had jumped into the East River that surrounds the notorious jail
  • One of the inmates was recovered by a harbour unit almost immediately, while the second escapee remains at large
  • NYC Scanner reported that the currently unnamed inmate was last seen swimming towards the runway of the nearby LaGuardia Airport

Two inmates escaped from New York City’s Rikers Island jail on Thursday afternoon, police have confirmed.

Authorities were alerted just after one 1pm that two inmates had jumped into the East River that surrounds the notorious jail, between Queens and Manhattan.

One of the inmates was recovered by a harbour unit almost immediately, while the second escapee remains at large.

NYC Scanner reported that the currently unnamed inmate was last seen swimming towards the runway of the nearby LaGuardia Airport.

Authorities were alerted just after one 1pm that two inmates had jumped into the East River that surrounds the notorious jail (pictured in foreground), between Queens and Manhattan

Aviation and Harbor units are assisting in the manhunt, while corrections staff are conducting a headcount at the facility to determine if anyone else is missing.

It’s immediately clear what crimes the men are accused of committing, nor was it clear how they escaped the facility. 

The New York Police Department has not yet returned a DailyMail.com request for comment.  

This is a developing story… 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk