Prison Escapes Italy

Italy offered a reward for information leading to the capture of Youssef Magid Molki, a Palestinian hijacker of the Achille Lauro cruise ship whose escape Feb. 28 during prison leave angered Jews and the United States. Meanwhile, the U.S. also offered a reward of up to $2 million. A State Department spokesman said the offer was separate from the bounty offered by the Italian government, which did not specify an amount. Molki was sentenced to 30 years for the 1985 hijacking.

A Palestinian terrorist convicted of killing an elderly American aboard the hijacked cruise ship Achille Lauro was captured Friday in Spain, three weeks after he failed to return from a prison furlough. Tipped off by an intercepted phone call, Spanish police tracked Youssef Molqi to the southern town of Estepona. He was unarmed and offered no resistance, Italian Police Chief Fernando Masone said.

A Palestinian terrorist convicted of killing an elderly American aboard the hijacked cruise ship Achille Lauro was captured Friday in Spain, three weeks after he failed to return from a prison furlough. Tipped off by an intercepted phone call, Spanish police tracked Youssef Molqi to the southern town of Estepona. He was unarmed and offered no resistance, Italian Police Chief Fernando Masone said.

Italy offered a reward for information leading to the capture of Youssef Magid Molki, a Palestinian hijacker of the Achille Lauro cruise ship whose escape Feb. 28 during prison leave angered Jews and the United States. Meanwhile, the U.S. also offered a reward of up to $2 million. A State Department spokesman said the offer was separate from the bounty offered by the Italian government, which did not specify an amount. Molki was sentenced to 30 years for the 1985 hijacking.

An American businessman wanted for murder in Glendale tried to escape from prison Thursday but was captured by guards, an official said. The escape attempt could delay the extradition of John Barrett Hawkins, 28, to the United States. Hawkins will be tried in Italy first for trying to flee the maximum-security Buancammino prison, the jail's director said. Hawkins, former co-owner of the Ohio-based Just Sweats clothing firm, is wanted by Glendale police in a 1988 murder-for-insurance fraud.

An American businessman wanted for murder in Glendale tried to escape from prison Thursday but was captured by guards, an official said. The escape attempt could delay the extradition of John Barrett Hawkins, 28, to the United States. Hawkins will be tried in Italy first for trying to flee the maximum-security Buancammino prison, the jail's director said. Hawkins, former co-owner of the Ohio-based Just Sweats clothing firm, is wanted by Glendale police in a 1988 murder-for-insurance fraud.