Prisoners freed by Irma recaptured

More than 100 prisoners have been captured after escaping from a jail on the British Virgin Islands following Hurricane Irma.

The governor of the islands said the prisoners of Balsam Ghut prison, in Tortola, had been captured on Thursday.

It followed an operation by British Virgin Island and Cayman Island police officers, alongside the British Royal Marines and police.

Gus Jaspert, the governor of the British Virgin Islands, said: “The government of the British Virgin Islands is extremely grateful to the police and military personnel for their tireless efforts, which have resulted in a thorough and extremely successful operation.

“I extend our gratitude to the UK and Cayman Island governments for their provision of personnel. This signals a huge step in all of our efforts to rebuild this fantastic territory.”

The news comes after British Virgin Islanders said they were “terrified” of the prisoners, who escaped because of the damage caused by Irma.

They said looting had been “terrible” and claimed escaped prisoners had committed a rape while on the loose.

Foreign minister Sir Alan Duncan said on Tuesday that the convicts posed a “serious threat of the complete breakdown of law and order”.

Engineers from 24 Commando Royal Engineers carry out repairs yesterday to make Balsam Ghut jail secure