Bitcoin heist mastermind suspect flees on Iceland PM's plane

A man suspected of masterminding the theft of 600 computers used to mine bitcoins and other crypto currencies has escaped a prison in Iceland and has likely fled to Sweden, officials said.

A passenger on the same flight to Sweden as the inmate told national broadcaster RUV that Iceland's prime minister, Katrin Jakobsdottir, was also on that flight.

Mr Jakobsdottir was among five Nordic prime ministers who met with India's prime minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday in Stockholm.

Swedish police spokesman Stefan Dangardt said today that no arrest has been made in Sweden, but Icelandic police have informed them of the situation and issued an international arrest warrant.

The police in Iceland believe that the man, named Sindri Thor Stefansson, fled a low-security prison through a window.

He is thought to have boarded a flight to Sweden at Iceland’s international airport in Keflavik.

"He had an accomplice," police chief Gunnar Schram told Visir, an online news outlet in Iceland. "We are sure of that."

Icelandic officials claim it was unlikely that Mr Stefansson had to display his passport at the airport since he travelled within Europe’s passport-free Schengen travel zone, though the plane ticket he used was under someone else’s name.

Iceland, a non-European Union member, is member of Europe’s borderless travel area.

Mr Stefansson was among 11 people arrested for allegedly stealing the powerful computers in a series of four burglaries in December and January, in what is considered as Iceland’s biggest-ever heist.

Icelandic media have branded the case “Big Bitcoin Heist” as the stolen equipment – which is still missing – has been valued at almost $2million.

If used to create new bitcoins, the thieves could turn a massive profit in an untraceable currency.

Police have arrested 22 people in total, including a security guard, without solving the burglaries.

The escaped prisoner was being held at the Sogn prison in rural southern Iceland – 59 miles from the airport.

The prison is unfenced and inmates have telephone and internet access.

Mr Stefansson had been in custody since February and was moved to the open prison 10 days ago, police said.