A £10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the capture of the two men sprung from a prison van in Salford on Tuesday.
A gang of three masked men armed with sawn-off shotguns held up the prison van on Regent Road on Tuesday morning, before making the getaway in a dark-coloured Saab.
The large cash reward is to be paid once Ryan McDonald, 20, and Stevie McMullen, 31, are back behind bars as the manhunt continues for a fourth day today.
Chief Superintendent Kevin Mulligan said: “The sum on offer is significant and will make a genuine difference to someone’s quality of life.
“However, I need to once again reiterate the potential danger posed by all these men – the public should not approach either man and if anyone knows where they are or saw these men escaping I would urge them to contact police immediately.
“I also want to remind people that we have a range a measures available to us to ensure you are not identified if you speak to us and to keep you and your family safe.
“The public would expect there to be an increased police presence in the Regent Road area and I can assure them that there will be more officers than usual to provide a protective and reassuring presence.”
Three men in balaclavas and dark clothing attacked the GEOAmey prison van on Regent Road around 9am as it made its way from HMP Altcourse to Manchester Crown Square court.
Prison staff were threatened with a shotgun while the duo and the three attackers made their getaway in a dark-coloured Saab, before dumping it near the M602 roundabout.
Two men then escaped on a motorbike that was later found abandoned on Thurlow Street, as the other three made off on foot towards Phoebe Street in the Ordsall estate.
Chief Superintendent Kevin Mulligan said: “The investigation to recapture these fugitives is progressing well and we have been following up a number of leads.
“This work will continue until the moment all those involved are returned to their prison cells.”
McDonald was due to be sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery.
McMullen was on trial having been charged with conspiracy to kidnap, conspiracy to rob, conspiracy to commit arson and other serious offences
A 28-year-old woman and 24-year-old man were detained at a house on the Ordsall estate on suspicion of being involved in assisting an offender. They have been released on bail pending further inquiries until June 26.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 5237, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or in an emergency 999.
For more on this story and many others, follow Mancunian Matters on Twitter and Facebook.
