Police in the west Australian city of Perth set up road blocks and issued a security alert today after nine maximum-security prisoners escaped from a court.
By nightfall police had recaptured four of the prisoners, but the hunt for the remaining five had spread to coastal towns south of Perth after reports of sightings of the men.
Four of the prisoners carjacked two motorists at traffic lights, pulling them from their cars. The five other prisoners fled on foot.
Police said the men, who were due to face a range of charges from armed robbery to sexual assault, were extremely dangerous and warned residents not to approach them.
"It is believed the men overpowered three guards in a holding area of the court, before escaping," police said.
The prisoners had been due to appear in the Perth Supreme Court in the city's central business district, but they overpowered guards and stole the keys to their holding cell in the basement, escaping via a fire escape.