Four men who fled Yarl’s Wood detention centre during a riot last April have finally been caught in London, police confirmed.
On April 28, 2023, thirteen detainees took advantage of chaos during a violent riot at the notorious Bedfordshire centre. They stormed out via the sports hall, smashed through three perimeter fences, and vanished across the country.
All thirteen men have now been sentenced to over 21 years combined in prison. Recently, four of the escapees were tracked down and arrested in London.
Enea Shima, 28, was caught in Bromley on May 3. Bilbil Bodini, 27, was nabbed in Hendon on May 7. Luftin Hallaci, 21, handed himself in at Romford police station on May 9. Rizah Koka, 29, was arrested outside a coffee shop in Colindale on May 4.
During Koka’s arrest, police seized a stash of illegal drugs and cash at a linked location.
At Luton Crown Court in December, Koka was sentenced to five years in prison, including an additional six months for escaping custody. Bodini and Hallaci each received eight-month sentences, while Shima was sentenced to six months behind bars.
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Inwood said: “This was a dangerous and brazen escape attempt by men awaiting deportation. Thousands of hours of work by Bedfordshire officers and law enforcement nationwide went into tracking down those who escaped. Their behaviour was completely unacceptable and a flagrant breach of the law.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
