SEVEN prisoners remain on the run after busting out of a New Orleans jail through a hole in their cell.
The fugitives are believed to have left the city and could be “anywhere” in the country, a US attorney has warned.
Ten men – including accused killers – escaped the Orleans Justice Centre on Friday through a hole behind a toilet.
Seven of the dangerous men are still on the run, sparking fear across the US.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said the inmates have had plenty of time to get to “frankly anywhere across the country”.
And the authorities believe the fugitives are likely to have left the city and have urged the public to stay alert and report any tips.
The FBI has also joined the manhunt – offering up to $5,000 for any tips leading to arrests.
Authorities believe the prisoners managed to escape by navigating through a pipe chase, eventually reaching a loading dock and then climbing over the prison wall.
Shocking surveillance footage shows two of the men kicking and pulling at a door before yanking it open.
While separate footage shows the dramatic moment all ten inmates bolt from their cell block before using blankets to scale the barbed wire fence.
Following their Shawshank Redemption-style escape, the inmates were spotted running along a nearby motorway.
The inmates waited until their guard was away getting food before launching their escape plan.
Their absence was noticed during a customary head count at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, which launched a search operation for the fugitives.
Three of the prisoners have been found, with inmate Kendell Myles being the first to be tracked down.
Myles was found just hours after escaping hiding underneath a car in a hotel parking garage in the French Quarter.
Robert Moody and Dkenan Dennis were the second and third escaped inmates to be captured by the cops.
The captured fugitives were pictured being led into a helicopter by cops on Friday night after their failed escape mission.
The remaining seven are still at large.
The dramatic escape has sparked fears that the prisoners had help on the inside.
Chief of Corrections Jeworski Mallett said the hole through which they escaped could not have been created from the inside.
He stated, “We are certain that this section cannot be accessed from within the facility, prompting an investigation to determine who accessed these areas, what tasks were performed, if there was ongoing work, and if it involved insider assistance.”
Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson also suggested that the inmates may have been given tools to assist with their escape.
She said: “It’s almost impossible, not completely, but almost impossible for anybody to get out of this facility without help.”
She said the men were able to get out of as a result of “defective locks”.
It is also unclear how some of the men obtained regular clothes.
Hutson said her department was working with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to search for the inmates.
She added: “We are launching a full investigation to determine how this escape occurred, including reviewing facility protocols, staff performance and physical security measures.”
Orleans Parish district attorney Jason Williams said: “These inexcusable failures have put lives in danger.
“This represents a complete failure of the most basic responsibilities entrusted to a sheriff or jail administrator.”
Three prison staff have been suspended, according to The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office.
It is unclear whether the woman who left the inmates unattended while on her break was among them.
‘DANGEROUS’ FUGITIVES
The inmates behind the prison break were identified as Antoine Massey, Lenton Vanburen, Leo Tate, Kendell Myles, Derrick Groves, Jermain Donald, Corey Boyd, Gary Price, Robert Moody, Decannon Dennis, and Keith Lewis.
Myles, 20, faces charges for concealing a weapon, bringing contraband into prison, and possession of contraband.
He has a history of escape. In July 2022, he escaped Bridge City Center, then was accused of carjacking and shooting a man in Uptown New Orleans.
He was indicted in that case.
Groves, 27, is an accused killer who was arrested on a second-degree murder charge and an attempted second-degree murder charge.
Donald, 42, has also been arrested on a second-degree murder charge and has been accused of aggravated battery and possession of a firearm.
Boyd, 20, is another at-large criminal who is accused of second-degree murder and aggravated battery.
Massey, 33, was jailed on domestic abuse charges involving strangulation and car theft.
Vanburen, 27, was arrested for illegally carrying weapons, obstruction of justice, and introducing contraband into prison.
Tate, 31, was arrested for burglary, possession of a firearm, and illegally carrying a weapon with a controlled substance.
Moody, 21, was arrested on weapons and drug charges.
Price, 21, was arrested for simple assault, criminal damage, domestic abuse, battery, and assault with a weapon.
Dennis, 24, was arrested for multiple illegal weapons charges, extortion, kidnapping, armed robbery, and theft.
