What's happened
A nationwide manhunt is underway in France after suspected drug boss Mohamed Amra, known as 'The Fly,' escaped from a prison convoy ambushed by armed gunmen near Rouen, Normandy. The attack, which occurred on May 14, resulted in the deaths of two prison officers and serious injuries to three others. Hundreds of police officers have been deployed to locate Amra and his accomplices. President Emmanuel Macron has pledged to find the perpetrators, and Interpol has issued a red notice for Amra's capture.
What's behind the headline?
What the papers say
According to Sky News, French investigators believe Amra may attempt to cross borders, possibly towards the Maghreb or Spain. The Scotsman reports that Amra was not considered a closely watched inmate, despite being involved in a narcotics network and under investigation for kidnapping and homicide. Metro highlights the personal tragedies of the prison officers killed, noting that one was a young father and the other had a pregnant wife. The Independent provides detailed accounts of the attack, including footage of the gunmen and the vehicles used in the escape. Politico emphasizes the organized nature of the attack and its connection to the rise in drug trafficking in France.
How we got here
Mohamed Amra, also known as 'The Fly,' is a suspected drug boss involved in a narcotics network in France. He was being transported from a court hearing in Rouen to a secure jail in Evreux when the ambush occurred. The attack took place at a tollbooth on the A154 motorway near Val-de-Reuil in Normandy. Amra has a history of criminal activity, including convictions for burglary and involvement in a kidnapping and homicide case in Marseille. The ambush, carried out by armed gunmen in balaclavas, resulted in the deaths of two prison officers and serious injuries to three others. The incident has led to a nationwide manhunt involving hundreds of police officers and gendarmes.
Go deeper
- What measures are being taken to capture Mohamed Amra?
- How has the public reacted to the prison convoy ambush?
- What are the implications for France's criminal justice system?
Common question
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France, officially the French Republic, is a country consisting of metropolitan France in Western Europe and several overseas regions and territories.
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The Fly is a 1986 American science-fiction psychological body horror film directed and co-written by David Cronenberg. Produced by Brooksfilms and distributed by 20th Century Fox, the film stars Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis and John Getz.
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French is a Romance language of the Indo-European family. It descended from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman Empire, as did all Romance languages. French evolved from Gallo-Romance, the Latin spoken in Gaul, and more specifically in Northern Gaul.
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Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron is a French politician who has been President of France and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra since 14 May 2017.
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Éric Dupond-Moretti is a French criminal defence lawyer, famous for his record number of acquittals.
On 6 July 2020, he became Minister of Justice in the government of Prime Minister Jean Castex.