After 26 hours as a hostage a 21-year-old girl was released by police when they captured three escaped prisoners in outback Australia on Monday (14 Sept). In a dramatic finale to a widespread search in desolate country the prisoners were taken into custody after driving into a police ambush.

The three escapees were from a prison farm. They tied up 21-year-old Monica Schiller's parents and boyfriend and took Monica with them n a desperate dash for freedom. Police sighted the prisoners' car from an aircraft. Police surrounded the track along which the car was heading.

When the escapees sighted the police a rifle barrel appeared out of the car's window and a shot was fired. A policeman moved towards the vehicle firing warning shots and after a short chase all three prisoners were captured. The hostage, Monica Schiller, had taken cover behind the car's rear seat and emerged unscathed. She said later that the captives had treated her quite well, but she wondered at times whether she would ever be released.

The freed girl and the prisoners were taken to Birdsville about 30 miles from the ambush spot. The girl was flown to Adelaide the next morning.

SYNOPSIS: In a dramatic finale police in Australia on Monday ended the 26-hour long bid for freedom by three escaped prisoners holding a girl hostage.

Police spotted convicts car from an aircraft and arranged an ambush about 30 miles from Birdsville in the desolate outback.

After a rifle was fired from the car police advanced firing shots.

One escapee made a bid for freedom.

Inside the car, the girl hostage was unscathed......
The three prisoners quickly surrendered and for 21-year-old Monica Schiller, it was the end of more than a day of fear. She had ducked down behind the car's back seat during the shooting and emerged calm and unhurt. Earlier she had seen her parents and boyfriend tied up by the prisoners when they escaped from a prison farm. The prisoners were searched for weapons after the capture and then taken to Birdsville with their former hostage.