Two inmates have escaped from a prison in Dijon, France by using saw blades dropped from drones. The escapees include a 19-year-old under investigation for attempted murder and criminal conspiracy, and a 32-year-old accused of making threats and aggravated habitual violence against a spouse, according to French police.
The escape was discovered by guards at the eastern French jail just before dawn. Authorities have classified the fugitives as dangerous and have initiated a search for them.
Reports from the Force Ouvrière union confederation indicate that the inmates sawed through the cell bars and then used blankets to scale the barbed wire fencing, leading to their successful escape. The union has criticized the prison management for neglecting security concerns despite prior warnings.
In a social media post, the organization condemned the management for turning a blind eye to the actual situation. This incident is part of a series of prison breakouts in France, with another inmate managing to flee from Rennes-Vézin prison in Ille-et-Vilaine recently.
The overcrowding issue in French prisons persists, with official data revealing occupancy levels exceeding capacity by significant margins. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin has faced criticism from multiple unions for allegedly prioritizing crime-fighting endeavors over improving prison conditions.
The unions jointly released a statement accusing the minister of showing contempt and focusing on maintaining a tough image instead of addressing systemic issues. Previous escape incidents have underscored the challenges within the French prison system, such as the high-profile escape of drug baron Mohamed Amra in 2024.