Quebec prison escapees recaptured

A heavily armed SWAT team has raided an upscale Montreal condominium to capture the three men police say made a bold escape by helicopter from a jail in Quebec, Canada, two weeks ago.

The men, who had been facing murder and gangsterism charges, were found early on Sunday in a 10th-floor condo with a stunning view of the city in a ritzy new development in Old Montreal.

Yves Denis, 35, Denis Lefebvre, 53, and Serge Pomerleau, 49, were arrested and fresh charges related to their wescape when the appeared in a Quebec City court yesterday.

Police did not say what led them to the condo.

Officers left the scene after carrying out several containers and bags. The splintered door was ajar in its bent frame, while inside the furniture was askew, with a couch on its side and cushions scattered about.

Quebec police sergeant Audrey-Anne Bilodeau said investigators had gathered evidence from the condo that could be used in court. She said the investigation into the escape was ongoing and further arrests were likely.

"It could be a person who helped them escape from prison or a person who helped them hide from us," Bilodeau said.