A group of armed men wearing balaclavas ambushed a prison van in France on Tuesday to release a drug dealer named Mohamed Amra. The incident, which was captured on CCTV, happened near Paris in the city of Rouen.&nbsp;

Amra, also known as “The Fly”, was being taken to a prison in Rouen, when gunmen attacked the prison officers that killed two of them and wounded others.&nbsp;

Amra is said to have links to a gang of drug dealers in the southern city of Marseille, which has seen many incidents of drug-related gang violence in the recent past.&nbsp;

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The incident took place the same day France’s Senate released a major report on drug trafficking, warning that the country faces a “tipping point” from rising narco violence.&nbsp;

<h2>Who is Mohamed Amra?</h2>

As per prosecutors, the fugitive Mohamed Amra is a 30-year-old drug dealer from northern France, who was convicted of burglary on May 10 and had been indicted by prosecutors in Marseille for a kidnapping that led to a death. A police source in Marseille said Amra was a drug dealer with ties to the city's powerful "Blacks" gang.

He was being held at the Vel de Reuil prison, near Rouen, and had reportedly appeared at a nearby court in relation to those new charges prior to the ambush.&nbsp;

Amra was not considered a highly dangerous prisoner and&nbsp;was not a “closely watched inmate”, said prosecutor Laura Beccuau.&nbsp;

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However, his transportation still reportedly required a "level three escort" which meant five prison officers were travelling with him.

As per Amra’s lawyer, Hugues Vigier, he had already made an escape attempt on the weekend by sawing out the bars of his cell. However, Hugues mentioned&nbsp;that he was shocked by Amra’s “inexcusable” and “insane” violence.

"This does not correspond to the impression that I had of him," the lawyer told BFMTV.

Vigier said that his assistant had met with Amra on Tuesday morning.

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"A short meeting, about an hour long was planned for this morning and my assistant saw Amra and he was perfectly normal," he said.

"He knew about Tuesday's transfer so it is possible that he'd have told other people."

Amra’s accomplices appeared to be fully informed though, because they were waiting at the motorway toll booth. As soon as the police van reached the toll booth, a car rammed into it and armed men opened fire brazenly.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A group of armed men wearing balaclavas ambushed a prison van in France on Tuesday to release a drug dealer named Mohamed Amra. The incident, which was captured on CCTV, happened near Paris in the city of Rouen.

A group of armed men wearing balaclavas ambushed a prison van in France on Tuesday to release a drug dealer named Mohamed Amra. The incident, which was captured on CCTV, happened near Paris in the city of Rouen. Amra, also known as “The Fly”, was being taken to a prison in Rouen, when gunmen attacked the prison officers that killed two of them and wounded others. Amra is said to have links to a gang of drug dealers in the southern city of Marseille, which has seen many incidents of drug-related gang violence in the recent past. Also Read | Zelensky cancels Friday visit to Spain; Ukraine withdraws troops in Kharkiv The incident took place the same day France’s Senate released a major report on drug trafficking, warning that the country faces a “tipping point” from rising narco violence. Who is Mohamed Amra? As per prosecutors, the fugitive Mohamed Amra is a 30-year-old drug dealer from northern France, who was convicted of burglary on May 10 and had been indicted by prosecutors in Marseille for a kidnapping that led to a death. A police source in Marseille said Amra was a drug dealer with ties to the city's powerful "Blacks" gang. He was being held at the Vel de Reuil prison, near Rouen, and had reportedly appeared at a nearby court in relation to those new charges prior to the ambush. Amra was not considered a highly dangerous prisoner and was not a “closely watched inmate”, said prosecutor Laura Beccuau. Also Read | One dead, hundreds injured as riots sweep New Caledonia However, his transportation still reportedly required a "level three escort" which meant five prison officers were travelling with him. As per Amra’s lawyer, Hugues Vigier, he had already made an escape attempt on the weekend by sawing out the bars of his cell. However, Hugues mentioned that he was shocked by Amra’s “inexcusable” and “insane” violence. "This does not correspond to the impression that I had of him," the lawyer told BFMTV. Vigier said that his assistant had met with Amra on Tuesday morning. Also Read | Dubai Unlocked: UAE vows to crack down all forms of illicit finance "A short meeting, about an hour long was planned for this morning and my assistant saw Amra and he was perfectly normal," he said. "He knew about Tuesday's transfer so it is possible that he'd have told other people." Amra’s accomplices appeared to be fully informed though, because they were waiting at the motorway toll booth. As soon as the police van reached the toll booth, a car rammed into it and armed men opened fire brazenly. (With inputs from agencies)

Drug dealer Mohamed Amra escaped following attack on his prison van in France. Who is he?

The grandmother of French teenager of African descent Nahel M, who was shot dead by the police, reacted to the expanding violent protests in France over her grandson's killing.

On Sunday, Nadia, Nahel M's grandmother, issued a plea for calm, telling people to "stop and do not riot".

"We don't want them to destroy shops, buses and schools," Nadia told a French TV channel BFM.

"They are using Nahel as an excuse," she said. "We want things to calm down."

Nahel's grandmother told the BFM TV news channel that her daughter "no longer has a life" after Nahel's death.&nbsp;

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She said that she "resents" the men who killed her grandson but she does not hate all other police officers.

Asked about the money reportedly donated for the police officer who got arrested after being seen shooting Nahel dead, Nadia said that her 'heart is in pain'.&nbsp;

<h2>'No violence will go unpunished': French prime minister</h2>

Hours after the home of Vincent Jeanbrun, mayor of the southern suburb of L'Hay-les-Roses, was ram-raided and set alight while his wife and children were asleep, Prime Minister Elizabeth Borne visited Jeanbrun’s house.

"No violence will go unpunished," Borne said.

Meanwhile, the Association of Mayors of France called for a rally of citizens and mayors on Monday in Jeanbrun’s support.

<h2>Nahel's funeral</h2>

Hundreds of people gathered in the French suburb Nanterre's grand mosque to attend the funeral of 17-year-old Nahel M.&nbsp;

Some of the mourners were heard saying. "God is Greatest" in Arabic.

Around 45,000 police personnel were on the streets of France with reinforcements consisting of specialised elite units, armoured vehicles, along with helicopters brought in to reinforce Paris, Lyon, and Marseille.

Also watch |&nbsp;France unrest: Fifth night of riots after police shoot teen

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On Sunday morning, the situation in France was calmer than the previous four nights, after local authorities announced bans on demonstrations, ordered public transport to stop running in the evening, and some local authorities imposed overnight curfews.

Overnight on Saturday, over 700 people were arrested across France, about a thousand less than those arrested on Friday night.

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The grandmother of French teenager of African descent Nahel M, who was shot dead by the police, reacted to the expanding violent protests in France over her grandson's killing.

The grandmother of French teenager of African descent Nahel M, who was shot dead by the police, reacted to the expanding violent protests in France over her grandson's killing. On Sunday, Nadia, Nahel M's grandmother, issued a plea for calm, telling people to "stop and do not riot". "We don't want them to destroy shops, buses and schools," Nadia told a French TV channel BFM. "They are using Nahel as an excuse," she said. "We want things to calm down." Nahel's grandmother told the BFM TV news channel that her daughter "no longer has a life" after Nahel's death. Also read | France riots | Protesters ram car into mayor's house, teen's funeral held: Top points She said that she "resents" the men who killed her grandson but she does not hate all other police officers. Asked about the money reportedly donated for the police officer who got arrested after being seen shooting Nahel dead, Nadia said that her 'heart is in pain'. 'No violence will go unpunished': French prime minister Hours after the home of Vincent Jeanbrun, mayor of the southern suburb of L'Hay-les-Roses, was ram-raided and set alight while his wife and children were asleep, Prime Minister Elizabeth Borne visited Jeanbrun’s house. "No violence will go unpunished," Borne said. Meanwhile, the Association of Mayors of France called for a rally of citizens and mayors on Monday in Jeanbrun’s support. Nahel's funeral Hundreds of people gathered in the French suburb Nanterre's grand mosque to attend the funeral of 17-year-old Nahel M. Some of the mourners were heard saying. "God is Greatest" in Arabic. Around 45,000 police personnel were on the streets of France with reinforcements consisting of specialised elite units, armoured vehicles, along with helicopters brought in to reinforce Paris, Lyon, and Marseille. Also watch | France unrest: Fifth night of riots after police shoot teen × On Sunday morning, the situation in France was calmer than the previous four nights, after local authorities announced bans on demonstrations, ordered public transport to stop running in the evening, and some local authorities imposed overnight curfews. Overnight on Saturday, over 700 people were arrested across France, about a thousand less than those arrested on Friday night. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

'They are using Nahel as excuse': Fatally shot teen's grandmother hits out at violent protesters

French president faces tough crowd after violence

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Drug dealer Mohamed Amra escaped following attack on his prison van in France. Who is he?

'They are using Nahel as excuse': Fatally shot teen's grandmother hits out at violent protesters

French president faces tough crowd after violence