Deadly France prison break sees Interpol issue global 'Red Notice' for on-run criminal 'The Fly'

International crime-fighting organisation Interpol has issued a global 'Red Notice' for an escaped criminal known as 'The Fly'. The move is part of a manhunt to capture Mohamed Amra, 30, who managed to escape a prison van following an incident that left two guards dead at a toll booth on a motorway in northwest France.

Amra, a career criminal, managed to escape authorities following the incident. Given his notorious reputation and a litany of crimes behind him, an international arrest warrant came promptly into effect. It was French authorities who sought Interpol's intervention. The "Red Notice" assertively indicates Amra is wanted for being involved in organised crime and murder among other significant offences.

Tragically killed during the breakout were Fabrice Moello, a father of two aged 52, and Arnaud Garcia, 35, whose wife is five months pregnant. The horrific scene unfolded on the A154 motorway in Val-de-Reuil in Normandy, which also led to seriously injuring three other guards.

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Known widely for his involvement in a narcotics network, Amra boasts a list of 13 convictions to his name. Post-escape, he fled with the attackers leaving their vehicles to be discovered burnt out shortly after, reports the Mirror.

His nickname 'The Fly' comes from a source close to him who stated it's "because he's everywhere, like an annoying fly". As per Interpol's notice, Amra, born in Rouen, France, stands between 174cm and 180cm tall, possesses brown "wavy hair and a beard", with dark brown eyes to boot.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin revealed to RTL radio earlier today that approximately 450 officers have been deployed in the massive manhunt following the attack, describing the search as "unprecedented". He remained optimistic about the capture of Amra "in the coming days", stating: "We are progressing a lot."

Eyewitnesses recounted that the brazen daylight heist was executed in under five minutes, leaving onlookers stunned. The prisoner and his cohorts initially fled in two vehicles - an Audi A5 and a BMW 5 series. However, the Audi was swiftly discovered abandoned and torched.

By Tuesday afternoon, the hunt for Amra and his associates had escalated, with 200 gendarmes joining forces with the elite GIGN anti-terror squad in a nationwide operation. A police spokesperson warned: "They are armed and very dangerous, and everything is being done to find them."

Amra, who was last week handed an 18-month sentence for a spate of aggravated thefts, was in transit between detention centres in Rouen and Evreux when the escape occurred. His criminal activities include armed robberies at supermarkets and other outlets in the suburbs of Evreux during summer 2019. Additionally, he is implicated in the murder of a man in Marseille on June 17, 2022.

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