HAMILTON — Police in Hamilton launched a massive manhunt for three suspects Tuesday after a prisoner was broken out of a hospital by two armed men.

Police say Fawad Ahmed Nouri, 25, an inmate at Hamilton Wentworth Detention Centre, was being escorted out of the Hamilton General Hospital shortly before noon when the two armed suspects “exited the hospital, pushed the guards to the ground, took the prisoner and fled in a Ministry of Correction Services vehicle, hitting an ambulance as they made their escape,” according to a statement.

They say the two other men were wearing surgical masks and hoodies and added all three later dumped the correctional vehicle a block away and took off in a silver Hyundai Tiburon.

“They all hopped in the correctional office’s van and drove really fast down the laneway, ripped the mirror off the ambulance and took off,” a witness told Global News.

Questions have been raised about how the incident could have happened as police never tell inmates when they are going to be taken to the hospital.

Global News however learned Nouri had been at the hospital Monday for a surgical procedure and returned Tuesday for a scheduled followup.

Nouri is well-known to police. Six years ago he pointed a sawed-off shotgun at a female Toronto police officer and tried to steal her gun. He was subsequently convicted of armed robbery.

Nouri was awaiting trial after being arrested on a number of charges including robbery and forceful confinement in relation to a robbery in January, in which shots were fired following a police pursuit, said Superintendent Bill Stewart of Hamilton police.

Two men had earlier pulled a shotgun on customers and staff at a Tim Hortons. According to police, two masked men fled the scene and subsequently engaged in a police chase. The suspects’ car eventually hit a snowbank.

Nouri is alleged to have fired a shotgun at officers during the chase. He took a shot once and was treated at Hamilton General Hospital. Nouri was back at the hospital for a scheduled followup appointment, police say.

In May, the Special Investigations Unit concluded that the two officers involved in the incident did not commit any criminal offences.

Nouri is described as 6 feet 1, 163 pounds and wearing an orange jumpsuit. He and Todd Fenty, 26, were originally charged with four counts of robbery, firearms offences and wearing a disguise. In February, however, police laid 36 additional charges.

Hamilton police consider the three armed and dangerous and warned the public against approaching them.