French prisoner 'The Fly' arrested nine months after deadly van ambush

A French convict who escaped during a deadly ambush on a police van has been apprehended in Romania, according to French authorities.

In May 2024, the vehicle transporting Mohamed Amra was attacked by armed men with military-grade assault weapons, resulting in the deaths of two prison officers and injuring three others.

Amra, also known as "La Mouche" (The Fly), is linked to a prominent drug gang in Marseille, French police have stated.

President Emmanuel Macron praised the capture as "a formidable success" and expressed his condolences to the families of the officers who lost their lives.

Mohamed Amra, the French prisoner known as 'The Fly' who escaped custody, was apprehended in Bucharest after being identified through facial recognition and fingerprints, according to Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau. Amra had altered his appearance, including dyeing his hair.

On Sunday, Beccuau announced that 10 individuals had been arrested for allegedly assisting in the planning, execution, and concealment of Amra’s escape. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his gratitude to European counterparts and French investigators for their tireless efforts in tracking Amra down over the past several months.

France's Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, also thanked Romania for its "crucial cooperation" in the capture.

Amra's escape occurred on May 14 near Rouen, Normandy, when gunmen ambushed a prison van at a toll booth. Two prison officers were killed, and three others were injured in the attack. The assailants managed to flee, and their car was later discovered abandoned near the scene.

The Paris prosecutor's office revealed that Amra had been convicted of burglary in Evreux on May 10 and was being held at a prison in Val-de-Reuil when he escaped. He was also indicted in Marseille for a kidnapping resulting in a death.

Though Amra was not considered a "closely watched inmate," his transport still required a "level three escort," which involved five prison officers accompanying him.

Amra's lawyer, Hugues Vigier, stated that Amra had previously attempted to escape by sawing the bars of his cell but expressed disbelief at the violence of the ambush. "This does not align with the impression I had of him," the lawyer said.

Following the attack, which marked the first deaths of French prison officers on duty since 1992, President Macron vowed to find the perpetrators. Over 300 investigators were assigned to the manhunt, and roadblocks were set up across north-west France.

Prime Minister François Bayrou declared on social media, "After a manhunt lasting several months, Amra has been arrested, finally!"