France prison van attack: ‘Unprecedented’ manhunt for escaped prisoner
Northern France is gripped by an “unprecedented” manhunt following a prison escape during a deadly ambush.
Mohamed Amra, alias “The Fly,” broke free while being transported back to jail from a court in Normandy on Tuesday. The escape unfolded when a vehicle slammed into his prison van at a toll booth, followed by armed assailants opening fire, resulting in the death of two officers and severe injuries to three others.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin emphasised that all resources are deployed in pursuit of these criminals, labelling the attack as an act of “cold-blooded barbarity.” Approximately 450 gendarmes and police officers have been mobilised in Normandy’s Eure department for an “unprecedented” search effort, as stated by Darmanin to French media on Wednesday.
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President Emmanuel Macron reassured France that exhaustive efforts are underway to apprehend the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, French prison officer unions have called for walkouts across the nation’s facilities on Wednesday to honour the fallen officers.
In a joint statement, the unions demanded urgent measures to improve staff safety – including the “drastic reduction of extraditions” of prisoners to court hearings, by promoting video-conferencing, and an “overhaul” to escort levels.
A minute’s silence will be taking place on Wednesday at 11:00 (09:00 GMT), and there have been demonstrations outside of French prisons, including in Paris according to local media.
French Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti has said he would meet with union representatives.
@wucai1989 The group of gunmen broke out an inmate during the ambush.#news #fouryou
