French authorities announced that Mohamed Amra, a convict known colloquially as 'The Fly', has been apprehended in Romania, bringing to an end a nine-month manhunt stemming from a tragic incident in May 2024. During an ambush at a toll booth, gunmen attacked a police transport vehicle carrying Amra, resulting in the deaths of two prison officers and injuries to three others.
Amra, who has ties to a prominent drug trafficking organization in Marseille, was being transported following a burglary conviction just days prior to the attack. French President Emmanuel Macron praised the capture, calling it "a formidable success" and expressing condolences to the families of the deceased officers.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau acknowledged Romania's significant support during the extensive investigation. On the day of the ambush, gunmen armed with military-grade weapons shot and killed two prison officers after ramming their transport van, subsequently fleeing the scene in an abandoned vehicle.
According to the Paris prosecutor's office, Amra had also faced charges related to a kidnapping that ended in a fatality. Although not classified as a "closely watched inmate", his transport required a level three escort, meaning five officers were assigned to him at the time.
In the days leading to the ambush, Amra had attempted to escape by cutting through the bars of his cell, leading his defense attorney, Hugues Vigier, to express disbelief at the violent circumstances surrounding the ambush.
As part of the operation to recapture Amra, more than 300 investigators were mobilized, with roadblocks set up across north-west France to prevent his escape. Prime Minister Francois Bayrou tweeted, "After a manhunt lasting several months, Amra has been arrested, finally!" The capture marks a significant milestone for French authorities in the ongoing efforts to improve prison officer safety following the deadly attack, which underscored the perils faced by those in law enforcement in France.
