Hundreds of police officers are hunting for Mohamed Amra, a prisoner who escaped from a prison van in Normandy, France, in an incident that has shocked the nation. Known as “The Fly,” Amra was being transported back from a court hearing in Rouen when the van was ambushed at a toll booth on Tuesday.
The dramatic escape unfolded when a Peugeot car rammed the prison van at the Incarville toll barrier in the Eure region. Armed men exited the Peugeot and an accompanying Audi vehicle, firing at the van and killing two prison officers. The assailants then freed Amra and fled the scene.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin stated that all available resources are being deployed to find the criminals. Approximately 200 gendarmes were mobilized on Tuesday, with vehicle checks being conducted in key locations. President Emmanuel Macron emphasized that everything is being done to locate and apprehend the perpetrators.
The Paris state prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, provided details of the ambush, noting that the attackers used long guns and targeted the prison van with precision. Two of the vehicles used by the attackers were later found burned in different locations, complicating the investigation.
The two officers killed in the attack have been identified. One leaves behind a wife and two children who were to celebrate their 21st birthday soon, while the other leaves behind a pregnant wife. Three other officers were injured, all of whom are fathers. French Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti condemned the attack as a “vile crime” and vowed that the perpetrators would be punished accordingly.
Amra, 30, was convicted of burglary on May 10 and had been indicted in Marseille for a kidnapping that resulted in a death. Despite not being closely monitored, Amra was under a “level three escort” during his transport due to his criminal history, which includes 13 convictions since 2009.
His lawyer, Hugues Vigier, expressed disbelief over the escape, suggesting that Amra might not have been aware of the plan. Reports indicate that Amra had attempted to escape his prison cell earlier in the week by trying to saw through the bars.
Amra is believed to have connections to a gang in Marseille, a city notorious for drug-related violence, although his criminal record does not include drug offenses. The incident has raised serious concerns about prison security and the transportation of high-risk inmates.
The French authorities continue their extensive search for Amra and his accomplices, aiming to bring them to justice and restore public safety.
