According to the Director General of Reintegration and Prison Services (DGRSP), Rui Abrunhosa, “the escape of the five individuals was recorded on the video surveillance system at 09:56”.

According to Rui Abrunhosa, who was speaking at a press conference at the headquarters of the Internal Security System (SSI), the information was only communicated to the higher authorities “about 40 minutes later, because it was only at that time, when they returned to their individual cells, that they realised that five individuals were missing using the video surveillance system”.

“From that moment on, all the necessary actions were taken. An investigation is currently underway through the audit and security service to find out what might have gone wrong”, he said.

“Something went wrong because otherwise, the people would not have escaped”, he reiterated.

When asked about what went wrong in the observation of the video surveillance cameras [about 200], the head of the prison services said that this is one of the aspects that will have to be investigated in the internal investigation that is underway.

"There should definitely be [guards looking at the video surveillance images]. If there is no one, that would be a very serious security failure", he said, admitting that the grid [of images from the 200 cameras] is large and that it is necessary to find out what went wrong.

Asked whether he feels he has the conditions to remain in his position, Rui Abrunhosa stated that it is not in his nature to give up when faced with setbacks and that, although in these situations it is "easy to throw in the towel and leave", his understanding is that one should stay "until the end until things are clarified".

However, he stated, that if he notices that the trust placed in him no longer exists, he will not wait to be told to leave.

“Very dangerous”

The GNR and PSP officials present at the press conference also detailed the measures taken and implemented by each of the security forces following the escape of the five detainees, who are considered to be very dangerous.

In the case of the GNR, it was stated that the entire force has been informed and is on alert, with the commander of the GNR Territorial Command in Lisbon, Lieutenant Colonel João Fonseca, stressing that the "keyword" is collaboration and cooperation.

The PSP superintendent present at the press conference also stated that all forces are working together in this common challenge of recapturing the escaped prisoners, reiterating the dangerousness of the individuals in question and the need for caution in their approach.

During the press conference, the deputy secretary-general of the SSI, Miguel Vieira, was asked whether the reestablishment of border control had been considered following the escape of the five prisoners, and he clarified that it had not.

"For a confined situation like this, [that solution] is neither appropriate nor proportionate", he said, highlighting that both the GNR and the PSP have already established the measures considered appropriate to carry out such control.

The SSI said on Saturday that "international police cooperation" had been "streamlined" to capture the escapees.

When questioned by Lusa, the Spanish Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI) responded that "the Spanish State security forces have adequate operational responses to deal with this type of situation".