Two out of seven escapees shot dead

The police today shot dead 2 of the 7 detainees who escaped last Monday in Kampung Pelet, Bukit Mertajam.

Penang Police deputy chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Jaafar said the two men were shot in Kampung Pelet as they attempted to evade a police inspection and fled in a car.

He said they were spotted in a Proton Perdana car and attempted to flee but the police shot at a tyre of the vehicle, causing it to plunge into a river.

A shootout occurred as the men fired at the police and the police opened fire, killing them, he told Bernama.

The dead men have yet to be identified, he said.