Malaysian police kill 2 after 'chilli' escape, 5 suspects still on the loose

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Malaysian police on Thursday shot and killed two of the seven suspected criminals who escaped custody this week by temporarily blinding a guard with chilli powder.

The escape on Monday of the men - whom police have called "dangerous criminals" - has prompted a large-scale manhunt in the northern state of Penang.

Mr Abdul Rahim Hanafi, Penang's police chief, said two of the fugitives were shot dead in a gunfight with police after a high-speed car chase.

He said officers spotted the suspects in a car and ordered them to surrender but they sped off after crashing into a police vehicle.