French police were on May 15 hunting for a group of gunmen who killed two prison officers in an attack at a motorway toll booth that freed a convict linked to gangland drug killings.
President Emmanuel Macron vowed that everything would be done to find the inmate and those behind the attack.
Besides the two prison officers who were killed, three others were wounded, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said.
The incident took place late on May 14 morning at a road toll booth in Incarville in the Eure region of northern France.
The inmate was being transported back to prison in the town of Evreux, after being questioned by a judge in the regional centre of Rouen in Normandy.
The prosecutor said the prison van was rammed head-on by a stolen Peugeot vehicle as it went through the toll crossing.
But the prison vehicle was also followed by an Audi from which gunmen emerged who shot at both vehicles in the prison convoy.
"Everything is being done to find the perpetrators of this crime," Mr Macron wrote on X.
"We will be uncompromising," he added, describing the attack as a "shock".
This story is from the May 16, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 16, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
ALCARAZ PLAYS DOWN MATCHING RECORDS
He says it is almost impossible’ to win 14 French Open titles or 24 Major crowns
BOSTON CELEBRATE HOLIDAY SPIRIT
Celtics star Brown credits guard for 2-0 Finals lead after Jrue nets team-high 26 pts
CLEARING AWAY FROM THE PACK
Purton takes Hong Kong tally to 4 wins after sweet treble, with nine meetings left
CAMERA-SHY EQUINE CHAMPION
Lim’s Saltoro refuses to head into victory circle after win
Britain's rich race to save their wealth from election hit
Some are cashing in investments, paying off bills that may soon rise or leaving entirely
China's push to clear inventory of unsold homes unlikely to help developers
They expect few projects to be selected, citing an inadequate lending facility
Free MRT rides along seven new TEL stations on June 21
Stations from Tanjong Rhu to Bayshore will host games, activities during public preview
He's turning 70 soon, but his kidney is nearly a century old
He received organ from father in his youth; many face long waiting list for a transplant
Number of armed conflicts in 2023 highest since end of World War II: Study
Spread of ISIS and involvement of more non-state actors among reasons for rise
Austrian flight lands safely after hailstones rip away nose cone
An Austrian Airlines flight landed safely in Vienna after a severe hailstorm tore away much of the plane's nose cone and left the front windows riddled with cracks.