Two Guards Killed During Transport of Convicted Criminal. key points:
- A convicted felon escaped custody after an ambush on a prison transport van
- Two prison officers were killed and three others seriously injured in the attack
- French authorities have launched a massive search involving hundreds of police
- The escapee is a 30-year-old man suspected of being a major drug trafficker
French authorities are urgently searching for a convicted criminal after a brazen attack on a prison transport van left two guards dead. What began as a routine transfer turned into a deadly ambush — leaving officials vowing to leave “no stone unturned” in the nationwide search. But who is the escapee, and what happened?
The Shocking Attack
Early Wednesday morning, a convoy of vehicles was transporting the 30-year-old prisoner from a court hearing back to jail. At around 10 am local time, the prison van carrying the inmate was forced to slow down at a tollbooth on the motorway near Reau.
That’s when the ambush began. Two other vehicles suddenly rammed the prison transport, blocking it in. Gunmen wearing masks sprang out, opening fire on the van. Two guards were killed in the hail of bullets, while three more were gravely wounded.
Amidst the chaos, the inmate — known by his nickname “The Fly” — managed to escape from the disabled vehicle and flee the scene with his armed accomplices. Bystanders at the tollbooth captured shocking video footage of the violent escape as it unfolded.
The Fugitive’s Violent History
The escapee has been identified as 30-year-old Mohammed Batar, a convicted criminal with a long rap sheet. Batar is suspected of being a high-ranking member of a central drug trafficking ring, earning him the ominous “Narco Boss” moniker from French investigators.
Just days before the bloody escape, Batar had attempted to break out from the prison where he was being held. Guards found tools had been smuggled into his cell, likely to aid in cutting through the bars.
This latest incident was likely organized to disrupt Batar’s ongoing court proceedings for burglary charges. However, authorities believe the violent escape plot was set in motion to prevent the fugitive from potentially facing more severe drug trafficking charges.
Massive Manhunt Underway
In the wake of the audacious attack, the French government responded with a full-scale search and vowed to capture Batar at all costs. Over 200 elite police commandos and investigators have been deployed across the region.
“We will be unrelenting in hunting down those responsible,” President Emmanuel Macron stated grimly in a televised address. “This cowardly act of violence…will not go unanswered.”
The Justice Minister echoed the harsh rhetoric, declaring, “No matter what it takes, full justice will be served.”
As the intense search continues, residents have been warned to be highly alert and avoid individuals matching the escapee’s description. With a well-coordinated team of armed accomplices potentially aiding his getaway, the fugitive is considered extremely dangerous.
While French authorities are determined to bring Batar’s daring escape to an end, many are left wondering — how could such a high-risk prison transport be so vulnerable to attack? The shocking security lapse has raised serious questions about protocols for inmate transfers that will likely linger long after the fugitive is back behind bars.
Have officials underestimated how far criminal organizations will go to protect their lucrative operations? Only time will tell if lessons are truly learned from this deadly incident. But a nation remains on edge as the urgent search presses on.ย
