Two Prison Officers Killed, Convict Escapes Amid Carnage
A manhunt is in full swing in France following a harrowing attack on a prison van that resulted in the deaths of two prison officers and left three others injured. The incident occurred while the van was transporting a convict from a courthouse to a prison in Rouen, northern France. The assailants, armed with heavy weapons, targeted the convoy at a highway toll, allowing the prisoner to escape amidst the chaos.
French officials, including Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti and Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, have vowed to use all resources at their disposal to track down the perpetrators. Hundreds of police officers and gendarmes have been mobilized to assist in the manhunt.
French President Macron Vows Justice
President Emmanuel Macron took to social media to assure the public that every effort is being made to apprehend those responsible for the attack. Macron expressed solidarity with the families of the victims and the injured officers, pledging that justice will prevail in the name of the French people.
The escaped prisoner, identified as convicted burglar Mohamed Amra, known by the alias La Mouche (The Fly), is also under investigation for alleged involvement in a kidnapping and a separate homicide case in Marseille.
Investigation Points to Organized Crime
Public prosecutor Laure Beccuau indicated that the brazen assault on the prison convoy is believed to be linked to organized crime. A murder investigation has been launched in response to the attack. Forensic teams were deployed to the scene, where a significant police presence has been established to gather evidence and pursue leads.