Armed inmate apprehended hours after escaping during hospital visit in Utrecht

The inmate who went on the run with a gun in Utrecht on Friday was apprehended by police hours later near the Diakonessenhuis hospital. Authorities said warning shots were fired, but no one was hurt. The man was found to be in possession of a firearm.

Shortly before noon, the man broke away from his escorts during a hospital visit at the Diakonessenhuis. In the ensuing struggle, he seized a firearm from one of them, prompting police to initiate a manhunt.

Shortly after the escape, a Burgernet alert was issued in the Utrecht‑Oost area, instructing residents not to approach the armed suspect. According to reports, multiple witnesses in the neighborhood observed the man fleeing, which helped police track and apprehend him quickly.

Because of the severity of the situation involving an armed fugitive, Nearby schools implemented temporary security measures, including locking doors and keeping students away from windows. Parents were informed via social media. The precautions were scaled back once police confirmed that the suspect was no longer in the immediate vicinity of the school grounds.

The man was apprehended by late afternoon. RTV Utrecht obtained footage of the arrest, which occurred on Burgemeester Fockema Andreaelaan, the road running alongside the hospital. A section of the street has been closed off, with numerous police officers and several police vehicles on the scene.

Police quickly retrieved the DV&O officer’s service weapon from the suspect following the arrest. Although loaded, the weapon had not been discharged during the flight.

Following the arrest, much of Burgemeester Fockema Andreaelaan was sealed off with police tape. Several police vehicles and forensic specialists stayed for hours to examine the vehicle and the surrounding area.

An internal investigation by the Inspectorate of Justice and Security was immediately launched after the arrest. The inquiry is examining how the prisoner was able to gain the upper hand and seize a service weapon despite the presence of two trained escorts.