Alket Rizaj, a convicted Albanian contract killer who took hostage six guards at Maladrino Prison in Central Greece on March 16 and held them nearly 24 hours in a bid to escape jail for a third time, surrendered late on March 17. One of the hostages had already escaped.
Rizaj had gained notoriety for getting out of Athens’ maximum security Kordyallos Prison twice by helicopters in 2006 and 2009, along with fellow convict and known associate Vassilis Paleocostas.
He told hostage negotiators at Malandrino Prison that he was carrying a hand grenade and had packed his body with explosives, which he would detonate unless granted a safe escape.
According to authorities, Rizaj decided to surrender when he realized he would be overwhelmed by the police’s special forces. They said that his claim to be in possession of explosives was a bluff and that he was armed only with makeshift knives.
Police arrested another two inmates who are believed to have helped Rizaj take the hostages. Earlier in the day, authorities said police lobbed chemicals inside a central prison, trying to smoke him out.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
