Escaped Bruges Hospital Prisoner Extradited to Belgium

The 31-year-old Russian prisoner who escaped from a Bruges hospital in June has been extradited to Belgium, his lawyer confirmed on Friday. Alaouidi Djabrailov was handed over to Belgian authorities on Monday after being arrested in northern France nearly two months after his dramatic escape, according to VRT NWS.

A Spontaneous Escape

The escape unfolded on the morning of Friday, 5 June, at the AZ Sint-Jan hospital in Bruges. Djabrailov had been transported from Bruges prison to the hospital for a medical procedure. During a clothing change, he threatened his guards with a sharp object and forced them to hand over the keys to his handcuffs before fleeing the building in the late morning, as reported by VRT NWS at the time.

The escape was witnessed by several people in the hospital waiting room. One eyewitness, Bernadette, described the moment he ran past her with handcuffs still attached to his ankle. “The look in his eyes was incredible. He looked like a real villain,” she told VRT NWS.

According to his defense lawyer Randall Huysentruyt, the escape was not premeditated. “It was a spur-of-the-moment decision after a discussion about his ankle monitor,” Huysentruyt told the Belga news agency.

A Two-Month Manhunt

A large-scale search was launched immediately after the escape, involving police patrols, a federal police helicopter, and a tracking dog. The hospital was temporarily closed and placed under heightened security. The Public Prosecutor’s Office of West Flanders issued both national and international wanted notices, as confirmed in an official press release.

Despite the intensive search, Djabrailov remained at large for nearly two months. The investigation examined whether he had received outside help, according to VRT NWS.

The breakthrough came on 27 July, when Djabrailov was arrested by the judicial police of Lille in the municipality of Englos, northern France. The arrest followed intensive cooperation between various police services from Belgium and abroad, as reported by VRT NWS.

Criminal Background

Djabrailov, a Russian national of Chechen origin, was serving a 40-month prison sentence for robbery with violence. His conviction stemmed from a violent car theft in Ghent in late 2024, during which he pulled a 79-year-old woman from her car, damaged multiple vehicles, and broke into a home to obtain keys to a van. His sentence was scheduled to expire in March 2028.

This was not his first escape attempt. In May 2025, Djabrailov attempted to escape from Ghent prison with a fellow inmate by digging a hole in the cell wall and constructing a homemade ladder from their bunk beds. The attempt was described as spectacular and was nearly fatal, as noted by KW.be.

Legal Consequences

Following his extradition, Djabrailov was interrogated by the investigating judge, who ordered his detention on suspicion of escape and illegal possession of a weapon. The Bruges chamber extended his detention by one month on Friday.

Significantly, escaping from prison became a criminal offense in Belgium at the beginning of 2026 following a legislative change. Previously, escaping was not punishable in Belgium. Djabrailov now faces 6 months to 3 years in prison for the escape itself, in addition to charges for threatening his guards with a sharp object during the incident.

The case highlights a notable shift in Belgian law. The Dutch public broadcaster NOS noted that escaping was previously not punishable in Belgium, a situation that changed with the new legislation. The AZ Sint-Jan hospital director also told NOS that during the clothing change, “when the handcuffs are removed one by one, he managed to grab a sharp object. But where it came from is not clear. We suspect he forced the guards to unlock the handcuffs.”

What’s Next

Djabrailov remains in custody as the judicial process moves forward. His lawyer stated that the arrest and extradition proceeded without problems. The Bruges chamber’s decision to extend his detention signals that authorities are treating the escape seriously, and the new legislation ensures that the escape itself will carry additional consequences.

For Belgian authorities, the case also raises questions about security protocols during hospital visits for prisoners. The escape from a medical facility, despite the presence of multiple guards, has drawn attention to potential vulnerabilities in the prison transport and escort system. As the legal proceedings continue, observers will be watching whether this incident prompts reforms in how prisoners are escorted during medical procedures.