France Prison Van Attack: Manhunt for the Prisoner Who Has Escaped Has Now Entered the Second Day

A massive manhunt is underway for Mohamed Amra, known as "The Fly," after his dramatic escape from a prison van in France, where gunmen killed two officers. Authorities vow to capture Amra and his armed accomplices.

A huge manhunt with hundreds of police officers is currently in Normandy, France for Mohamed Amra, who is called "The Fly," after he escaped from a prison van on Tuesday.

Amra, 30, was being taken to jail after a court hearing in Rouen when the van he was in was run over by another vehicle at a toll booth in Incarville. Hooded gunmen then fired at the van, killing two prison officers and wounding three others.

"All the measures are being used to locate these felons," said French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin. A hundred-plus police were sent to the scene of the attack immediately after the brazen attack, and vehicle checks were set up at the key locations.

President Emmanuel Macron promised that "everything is being done" to find Amra and his armed accomplices who escaped with the prisoner after the assault. Two cars with burned-out engines which were used by the gunmen were found on Tuesday.

The recently convicted burglar, Amra, who is linked to the criminal gangs of the city of Marseille, was indicted in the fatal kidnapping case, the prosecutors said. Even though he was not a high-risk inmate, transportation to the highest security level was ordered for him because of his 13 prior convictions that started in 2009.

Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti honored the slain officers, one of whom was on the eve of his daughter's 21st birthday, the other who left behind a pregnant wife. He promised the "vile" perpetrators would be apprehended and punished severely.

Also Read: Operation Prison Break in Normandy: Two Officers Killed in Attack on Prison Van

While the manhunt is going on, the authorities are trying to ascertain if Amra knew about the plot to free him and to find out the accomplices who were involved in the deadly attack.