'Most wanted' escapee Kirk Bradley held in Amsterdam

One of the UK's most wanted escaped prisoners has been arrested in Amsterdam, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) has said.

Kirk Bradley fled from a prison van in Manchester last July, it said.

Soca said he was arrested with his uncle on Wednesday night.

He was found guilty in his absence of firearms offences after a series of shootings and an incident where a hand grenade was found at the home of Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish.

Anthony Downes, who was convicted of the same charges and escaped with Bradley, was captured in Goes, Zeeland, in March while checking into holiday accommodation.

Bradley, who was arrested at what Soca described as his "luxury apartment", is expected to be returned to the UK to serve his life jail term.

Soca's head of European operations Ian Milne said Bradley had had "no idea we were on to him".

"Joint working with Merseyside Police and the Amsterdam Police has led to the capture of these two violent and dangerous individuals," he said.

"They are now back behind bars where they belong. This shows that criminals who flee to other countries are not beyond our reach."