Prisoner still on the run in the Northern Territory after escaping custody as police issue urgent warning

By KYLIE STEVENS, SENIOR BREAKING NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 00:01, 7 July 2026 | Updated: 00:03, 7 July 2026 An urgent manhunt continues for a prisoner escaped from custody while being transported to hospital. Isaac Thompson, 26, remains on the run - more than 36 hours after he managed to flee while being escorted from an ambulance at Royal Darwin Hospital's emergency department on Sunday night. Thompson, who is a known associate of the Mongols bikie gang, was only in shorts, socks and handcuffs at the time. He escaped hours before he was due to appear in Darwin Local Court on Monday for a directions hearing. Thompson had been in custody since February, accused of possessing a commercial quantity of drugs, possessing property in the commission of an offence, and carrying a controlled weapon. Northern Territory Police confirmed to Daily Mail on Tuesday morning that Thompson remains at large and warned the public not to approach him. The Fugitive Taskforce, Strike Force Trident and the Dog Operations Unit are involved in the large-scale manhunt. Thompson is the third Mongols-linked prisoner to escape custody in the NT in less than a month, prompting the Department of Corrections to launch an internal investigation.  Isaac Thompson, 26, remains on the run on Tuesday The inmate escaped while being escorted from an ambulance at Royal Darwin Hospital's emergency department 'Corrections staff tried to apprehend the prisoner but were unsuccessful,' a spokesperson told the NT News. 'An internal investigation is underway and a full and thorough review will be undertaken into the circumstances of the escapes,' the department said.  Sergeant Kenneth Bradshaw urged Thompson to hand himself in to police. Thompson was last seen running along Rocklands Road. Members of the public who spot Thompson are urged not to approach him but to call Triple Zero immediately. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.