Mohamed Amra, a French convict infamously known as "The Fly," has been arrested in Romania by authorities after evading capture for nine months following a brutal police van ambush in May 2024. The ambush led to the tragic deaths of two prison officers and left three others injured when assailants armed with military-grade weapons attacked the vehicle in Normandy.
Upon his capture, President Emmanuel Macron described it as "a formidable success" and offered condolences to the families of the fallen officers. He expressed gratitude towards European collaborators and French investigators who tirelessly sought Amra's whereabouts since the ambush.
Amra's escape occurred on May 14 when gunmen attacked a police van transporting him after he was convicted of burglary. The attackers, having rammed the vehicle, shot the officers, causing mass chaos. French police later discovered the getaway car abandoned near the ambush site, prompting a large-scale manhunt with more than 300 investigators deployed.
Before his escape, Amra had attempted to flee by sawing through his cell bars just days prior to the ambush, raising questions about the level of monitoring of potentially dangerous inmates. His lawyer, Hugues Vigier, expressed disbelief at the severity of the violence during the ambush, stating it was inconsistent with his previous knowledge of Amra.
France's Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, thanked Romanian authorities for their significant cooperation in apprehending Amra, emphasizing the successful conclusion of a challenging investigation. The apprehension process involved the implementation of roadblocks and extensive searches across north-west France. Prime Minister Francois Bayrou shared updates on social media, celebrating the culmination of what was termed an “unprecedented” hunt for the escaped prisoner.
