Mohamed Amra, a notorious French convict dubbed 'The Fly', has been captured in Romania nearly nine months after making a daring escape from a police van in May 2024 that resulted in the tragic deaths of two prison officers. The ambush, which occurred near Rouen, Normandy, involved assailants armed with military-grade weapons who attacked the vehicle transporting Amra, injuring three other officers in the process.
The ambush marks a significant failure in France's prison security and has drawn scrutiny over the protocols in place for transporting dangerous inmates. French President Emmanuel Macron praised the authorities for their relentless efforts that led to Amra's capture, expressing his condolences to the families of the fallen officers on social media.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau acknowledged the vital assistance from Romanian officials, crediting their cooperation in bringing Amra into custody. At the time of his escape, Amra was serving time for burglary and faced additional charges in Marseille related to a kidnapping that resulted in a death.
After an extensive investigation involving over 300 personnel, roadblocks, and widespread public notifications across North-West France, authorities finally apprehended Amra. Macron had previously vowed to bring those responsible for the van attack to justice, a promise reflecting the outrage over the violence that resulted in the first deaths of French prison officers on duty since 1992.
Despite previous attempts to escape and the severity of his criminal background, Amra was not classified as a particularly dangerous inmate, raising questions about how such a serious breach of protocol could occur. As this case continues to unfold, it remains to be seen what measures will be put in place to prevent similar incidents in the future.
