There is still no trace of a violent suspect who escaped while being treated in a Rotterdam hospital on Wednesday, police said on Thursday morning.

Elias Adahchour, 24, took off from the Sint Franciscus hospital and was last spotted crossing the A20 highway at around 4pm on Wednesday afternoon. ‘That is where we lose the trail, although we have had a lot of reactions from the public,’ a police spokesman told broadcaster NOS.

The police have launched an urgent public campaign in their efforts to find Adahchour who is wanted in connection with shootings on December 4 and 9 which left several people injured. When he escaped he had a handcuff attached to his left wrist.

A spokesman for the justice ministry said guards fired two warning shots as he made off but it is not clear exactly how Adahchour managed to escape.