Danish police also believe that Peter Madsen may have been helped to escape by several unknown perpetrators.

Peter Madsen is suspected of threatening a prison psychologist, a prison guard at the entrance to the prison, two guards outside the prison and a driver in a white goods transport car.

This was reported by Danmarks Radio and the Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet on Wednesday.

The information must have emerged at the court in Glostrup where an interrogation was held with the 49-year-old Peter Madsen.

It was on Tuesday morning that Madsen threatened to leave the prison with a pistol-like object.

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Peter Madsen has tried to escape from prison Photo: NILS MEILVANG / TT