Man behind "bitcoin heist" evades capture in Iceland on same plane as PM

The man behind a suspected “bitcoin heist” in Iceland has escaped imprisonment.

An international arrest warrant has been issued for Sindri Thor Stefansson, who allegedly stole 600 computers to mine cryptocurrencies.

Police said that Stefansson got out through the window of a low-security prison, before boarding a flight to Sweden at an airport in Keflavik, 59 miles away.

Strangely, a passenger on board the plane told local media that Iceland's prime minister Katrin Jakobsdottir was also on the flight, although she has not yet verified this claim.

Officials believe that Stefansson got through security as he was travelling in Europe's passport-free Schengen zone.

It's believed the ticket he used was in someone else's name, leading police to conclude that an accomplice helped him carry out the daring escape.

Stefansson was arrested along with 11 others for stealing the computers in four burglaries in December and January.

In total, police have arrested 22 people in connection with the heist.

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