Police urgently seeking "psychotic" prisoner who escaped Groningen institution
The suspect's name and photograph were redacted after he was caught in the Czech Republic three weeks after his escape.
Police in the Netherlands asked for the public's help in tracking down a 33-year-old man who escaped a psychiatric institution in Groningen. Authorities released a photograph of the escapee, Mouloud M, on Wednesday, seven days after his escape from the custody of the Van Mesdag clinic in the Helpman neighborhood.
"Mouloud [M.] urgently needs medication for psychotic behavior," police said. The Enschede man was ordered to be held in the facility, but police did not immediately disclose the reason.
He was on supervised leave from the facility when he managed to escape those monitoring him. He was last seen on February 7 near the Sterrebos forest, which is along the north edge of the institution.
M. has an unrelenting stare which police described as "striking." The slender 1.90-meter tall man has a light tan skin complexion, short dark shaved hair, dark eyebrows, large dark brown eyes, and a short mustache and beard. He was last seen wearing a dark blue padded jacket, dark blue jeans and black shoes. When he escaped he was not carrying cash or a phone.
"If you see him, do not approach him yourself but call 112," authorities said. Anyone who knows where he might be hiding out should call 0800-6070, the free phone number set up by the FastNL police team that handles high priority fugitive cases.
The Van Mesdag clinic houses 260 male patients, most of whom were ordered into the clinic's custody. The facility employs 500 people.
