France prison van attack: Manhunt launched after 2 officers killed and inmate freed

Two French prison officers were killed in an ambush on a prison van near Rouen, Normandy on Tuesday (May 14).According to French media, an inmate who was being transported in the van escaped with the attackers.

France's Justice Minister, Eric Dupond-Moretti, stated that three other officers were seriously injured and that the Justice Ministry's crisis unit had been convened. French President Emmanuel Macron assured on X that all efforts were being made to apprehend the culprits, while Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced that hundreds of police officers and gendarmes had been deployed.

BFMTV reported that the inmate was being taken back to Évreux jail after a court hearing in Rouen. The ambush occurred at approximately 11:00 (09:00 GMT) near a toll booth on the A154 motorway, which has since been closed in both directions.

The attackers, travelling in two vehicles, intercepted the prison convoy, according to AFP. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the inmate and attackers fled in a car later found burned out nearby. Images circulating on social media, and featured by some French news outlets, show what appear to be hooded gunmen approaching the convoy.

A police source informed AFP that the ambush was executed by a group of multiple criminals usingtwo vehicles. Shortly after the incident, one of these vehicles was discovered "burned" at an undisclosed location.

The spokesperson for the CFTC Police union, Axel Ronde posted on X: “A real commando set an ambush against the convoy of prison administration staff in #Incarville.”

“One of the perpetrators was injured by return fire. Fraternal support for all prison administration staff in the face of this killing!”

Drug-related crime has surged across Europe, which has seen an influx of cocaine in recent years. Marseille has become the focal point of gang violence in France, marked by an especially brutal conflict between trafficking clans.

(With inputs from agencies)