UK Prison escape in Solomon Islands Malaita Eagle Force militia still control the capital Honiara Almost 100 high-risk prisoners have escaped from a maximum security prison in the Solomon Islands, escalating further ethnic tensions in the country. The escapees include members of the warring paramilitary factions struggling for dominance on the main island of Guadalcanal, as well as convicted prisoners serving life sentences.
Police are concerned about the security situation following the escape.
Prisoners from the rival Malaita island then rioted and were released by a leader of the MEF militia, which seized the capital Honiara in an attempted coup on 5 June. According to Assistant Police Commissioner Wilfred Akao, there is little hope of recapturing the prisoners, particularly those who have fled into the jungle. Honiara quiet Honiara was quiet during the weekend, with the capital patrolled by the armed MEF militia and unarmed police, Mr Akao said. But the Australian High Commission warned expatriates to take extra security precautions. The Malaitan coup was an escalation of an ethnic feud, which had been simmering for 18 months.