William Banks, a 27-year-old US citizen serving an eight-month jail sentence in Connecticut for stealing five pro-Israel yard signs, has escaped from prison and documented the entire breakout on X (formerly Twitter).
Watch: How William Banks planned and executed his escape from prison
Banks, whose incarceration began on 15 November 2024, was set to be released on 15 July 2025 after being convicted of five counts of sixth-degree larceny.
However, early on Friday, 21 February 2025, he filmed himself and several fellow inmates breaking out of prison and posted the footage online.
The videos, now viral, show the meticulous planning of the escape.
Banks first spotted a flaw in the prison’s perimeter fencing on 15 February, capturing footage of a hole large enough to squeeze through.
Days later, he posted another video of himself and his cellmates training and working out, referring to their upcoming escape as an “exodus.”
Banks initially planned the escape for 03:00 SAST (20:00 CT on 20 February), calling for inmates to meet him at the library, but for unknown reasons, the breakout took place two hours earlier at approximately 01:00 SAST (19:00 CT on 20 February).
In the final clip posted before his disappearance, Banks can be seen sprinting away from the prison with several inmates, celebrating their successful escape into the night.
Despite the footage circulating widely, Connecticut authorities have yet to issue a public alert confirming the escape, and Banks is believed to be at large.
Who is William Banks?
William Banks first made headlines in February 2024 after being arrested for stealing five pro-Israel yard signs from a Westport neighbourhood in Connecticut.
The signs, which bore the Israeli flag, were put up following the Hamas attack on Israel, and Banks’s actions were widely interpreted as a political statement.
Although his crime was considered minor, Banks’s case gained international attention, with some praising him for his defiance while others condemned him for targeting pro-Israel messages.
During his time in prison, Banks embraced religious activism, gaining a following among inmates for leading interfaith discussions combining teachings from the Bible and the Quran.
He frequently posted updates online, including one on 8 February, where he wrote:
“I AM IN JAIL. CHRISTIANS, JEWS, AND MUSLIMS ARE ALL MY FRIENDS. WE STAND TOGETHER TO ERADICATE ATHEISM FROM THE JAIL. SOON ALL OF SOCIETY WILL KNOW GOD.”
His quirky personality and outspoken views made him popular among fellow inmates, with some even joining him in his escape plans.
Following his dramatic breakout, authorities are now searching for Banks, though no official statements have been released. It remains unclear whether he acted alone or had outside assistance.
With Banks still on the run, the FBI and local law enforcement are expected to intensify efforts to track him down in the coming days.
