An inmate has vanished after staging a brazen prison break over the weekend in north France. Authorities confirm Redoine Faid is currently on the run following an escape from Lille-Sequedin penitentiary in Lille on Saturday. The escape prompted Interpol to issue an international wanted notice, also known as a red notice, to its 190 countries. In addition to the red notice, an arrest warrant covering 26 countries was issued.
It is unclear if French authorities have any leads on Faid’s whereabouts. The 40-year-old’s escape has described as well planned and sophisticated. While holding four prison guards and one other person at gunpoint, Faid used explosives to break through 5 doors. He then escaped in a vehicle that was later found abandoned and on fire.
“It all happened very quickly,” said a prison spokesman. “The escape was clearly very well organized - we are still busy trying to work out the facts.”
Authorities reportedly believe Faid’s wife likely aided his escape. She may have smuggled the explosives to Faid during visits to the prison.
French justice minister Christiane Taubira told reporters the manhunt “will initially focus on Belgium of course because we share a border but also extend to the entire Schengen area and beyond.”
Faid was captured in 1998 after pulling off at least 8 armed robberies. He received a 30 year prison sentence, but was paroled in 2009. The following year he was involved in an armed robbery that left a young police officer dead. Faid was recaptured and sent back to prison in June 2011.
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