French Prisoner 'The Fly' Captured After Month-Long Manhunt in Romania

French authorities have successfully arrested Mohamed Amra, a convict who escaped during a violent police van attack that left two officers dead. This arrest, hailed by President Macron as a significant triumph, follows a dedicated manhunt and international cooperation.

In a major development, French convict Mohamed Amra, infamously known as 'The Fly,' has been arrested in Romania after evading capture for nine months. French officials reported that Amra's escape followed a brutal attack on a police transport van on May 14, 2024, near Rouen, Normandy, which resulted in the tragic deaths of two prison officers and injuries to three others.

The assault involved gunmen wielding military-grade weapons who ambushed the van at a toll booth. Following the attack, the gunmen fled the scene, with authorities later recovering the abandoned vehicle nearby. President Emmanuel Macron expressed relief at Amra’s capture, declaring it a “formidable success” and extending sympathy to the families of the officers slain in the ambush. He commended both European allies and French investigators for their diligent efforts in tracking down Amra.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau also expressed gratitude towards Romania for its “crucial cooperation” in the arrest. Amra, who was initially held at a prison in Val-de-Reuil after a burglary conviction just days prior to the ambush, had been indicted for a kidnapping leading to death in the past.

Despite not being classified as a high-risk inmate, reports indicated that his transport required a "level three escort," necessitating five prison officers to accompany him. Amra's lawyer, Hugues Vigier, stated that Amra had previously attempted to escape by sawing through his cell bars, and described the violence surrounding the ambush as "insane" and "inexcusable."

In the wake of the ambush, which marked a sorrowful milestone as the first deaths of French prison officers in duty since 1992, over 300 investigators were deployed to hunt Amra down, setting up numerous roadblocks throughout northwestern France. Prime Minister Francois Bayrou took to social media platform X, celebrating Amra's eventual arrest after an extensive and unprecedented manhunt.