3 Inmates Escape Prison During New Year's Day Jailbreak, 2 Remain on the Run By Charlotte Phillipp

Three inmates in the U.K. escaped from prison on New Year’s Day — and authorities said the whereabouts of two of the men are still unknown.

According to police in Avon and Somerset, located in South West England, three men who were imprisoned at His Majesty’s Prison Leyhill were believed to have left the jail in South Gloucester, sometime between 5-8 p.m. local time on Thursday, Jan. 1.

The prison reported that the men had escaped by Thursday evening, and officers arrived there by 9.45 p.m. to begin their investigation.

One man, identified as 39-year-old Aaron Thomas, was arrested by police in Bristol, England, on Jan. 3. However, the other two men, identified by police as Matthew Armstrong, 35, and Daniel Washbourne, 40, have not been found.

Armstrong is described by police as a white male about 5’9″ tall, with red hair and scars on his forehead. He was last seen wearing a burgundy and orange coat, gray hat, gray tracksuit suit bottoms with blue on the side and black boots.

Police said he was convicted in the late 2000s of a murder that occurred during a robbery in Warwickshire, England.

Washbourne is described as a clean-shaven white male about 5’6″ who is tall, slim and has brown hair. He was last seen wearing a cream fleece, blue tracksuit bottoms, blue hat and black trainers.

Police said his previous convictions include violence against a person and false imprisonment. 

Officials have requested the public’s help in locating the two men, and also shared CCTV footage showing what the men were wearing on New Year’s Day.

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“Urgent actions have already been completed, including circulating the men as wanted via national police systems. Intelligence work to trace the men’s movements is ongoing,” police said, noting that the men’s home addresses had already been checked.

“As a precaution, we would advise any members of the public who see the two men to not approach them,” the statement added.

Anyone in the U.K. who has information about this case is advised to call 101, and anyone who sees the men is asked to call 999.

Thomas is set to appear in court on Monday, Jan. 5.