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One of Two Dijon Prison Escapees Caught, Teen Suspect Still at Large

The case spotlights chronic overcrowding in France's ordinary prisons.

Overview

  • Police arrested the 32-year-old escapee south of Dijon on Friday, while the 19-year-old suspected of attempted murder remains on the run.
  • The prosecutor's office said roughly 100 officers are taking part in the manhunt for the remaining fugitive.
  • Authorities say the men sawed through their cell bars and used bed sheets to flee, and the older detainee left a note claiming he had been held "too long."
  • A prison union representative said the tools were manual saw blades and noted staff had previously found blades inside the jail after repeated warnings about security gaps.
  • Unions renewed criticism of government priorities as overcrowded Dijon—311 inmates for 180 places—became a flashpoint following another recent escape in Rennes and the dismissal of that prison's director.