Armed assailants have killed two French prison officers and seriously wounded three others in an attack on a convoy in Normandy in which an inmate escaped, officials said.
The convoy was transporting prisoner Mohamed Amra to Evreux jail after a court hearing in Rouen when it was ambushed on the A154, which has been closed.
“All means are being used to find these criminals. On my instructions, several hundred police officers and gendarmes were mobilised,” interior minister Gerald Darmanin posted on social platform X.
L’attaque de ce matin, qui a coûté la vie à des agents de l’administration pénitentiaire, est un choc pour nous tous.
La Nation se tient aux côtés des familles, des blessés et de leurs collègues.
Tout est mis en œuvre pour retrouver les auteurs de ce crime…— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) May 14, 2024
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French President Emmanuel Macron in a post on X called the attack “a shock for all of us”.
Authorities worked to secure the area in north-western France and apprehend the assailants.
It was not clear how many were involved.
Amra was detained at the Val de Reuil prison centre near Rouen following his recent sentencing for burglary.
He was also under investigation for a kidnapping and homicide case in Marseille, according to public prosecutor Laure Beccuau.
Condoléances sincères et attristées aux familles endeuillées et aux agents du ministère de la Justice. Le plan « Épervier » a été déclenché. Tous les moyens sont mis en œuvre pour retrouver ces criminels. Sur mon instruction, plusieurs centaines de policiers et de gendarmes sont… https://t.co/KXzPJa0A2r
— Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) May 14, 2024
French media reported that Amra was nicknamed La Mouche (The Fly).
Ms Beccuau announced an investigation into the attack, considered a case of organised crime and murder, and said two of the wounded officers were in a critical condition.
The investigation will also address organised escape attempts, possession of military-grade weapons and conspiracy to commit a crime.
