On Tuesday morning, two prison officers lost their lives and three others were injured. The prisoner being transported, who had several previous convictions for aggravated robbery and extortion, managed to escape. The authorities are actively searching for him and his accomplices

On the morning of Tuesday 14 May, a tragic escape took place when a prison van was attacked at the Incarville toll plaza in the Eure department. At least two prison officers lost their lives, while three others were seriously injured. The prisoner being transported was Mohamed Amra, who had several previous convictions for serious offences.

The attack took place at around 11am, when the van was violently hit by a stolen Peugeot vehicle. Witnesses report hearing intense gunfire. The assailants, armed with rifles, opened fire on the van’s staff and managed to free the prisoner, who fled with their accomplices.

Profile of the escaped prisoner

Mohamed Amra, aged 30, was well known to the authorities for his involvement in criminal activities. He had recently been convicted by the Evreux court of burglary. In addition to this conviction, he was also implicated in other cases, including attempted extortion with a weapon and attempted murder, as well as crimes linked to organised crime.

The authorities reacted swiftly to the attack, mobilising significant resources to track down the fugitives. The Paris public prosecutor’s office opened an investigation into the murder, attempted murder, organised gang escape and possession of weapons of war. Special gendarmerie units have been deployed on the ground, with air support, to monitor the area and track down the fugitives.

The Sparrowhawk Plan put in place and then lifted

Although the Sparrowhawk plan was activated immediately after the attack to mobilise the gendarmerie units, it was lifted at the end of the afternoon, giving way to a more in-depth investigation. The search is continuing actively, and collaboration between the forces of law and order remains intense to apprehend the perpetrators of this bloody escape.

Intensive search continues

Following the attack, helicopters flew over the area to locate the suspects, while gendarmes from the local research section were mobilised. The central GIGN, based in Versailles, is also on standby to support the investigators on the ground.

The Paris public prosecutor reported that two burnt-out vehicles were discovered after the incident. They were found in the Eure department, in Houtteville and Gauville-le-Campagne.

In addition, Laure Beccuau confirmed that the assailants attempted to set fire to the battering ram vehicle that was used to stop the van.

Ongoing investigation into the attack on the prison van

This investigation also includes all persons in contact with the escaped individual and likely to have provided information to the assailants. The National Jurisdiction for Combating Organised Crime (JUNALCO) has been tasked with conducting the investigation, with magistrates from the Paris public prosecutor’s office present at the site of the incident.

The JUNALCO prosecutor’s office entrusted the investigation to the Central Office for Combating Organised Crime (OCLCO) and the Rouen Judicial Police. The investigation covers several charges, including murder and attempted murder in an organised gang, escape in an organised gang, acquisition and possession of weapons of war, and conspiracy to commit a crime.

Prosecutor Laure Beccuau has stated that all the forensic and technical police resources will be mobilised, and that the videos of the toll booth provided by witnesses will be meticulously analysed.

In addition, the Eure prefect has announced the opening of a psychological support unit for witnesses of the attack. Anyone needing help can call 15. A crisis unit has also been set up at the Eure prefecture.