1 fugitive who escaped from French prison using bedsheets caught again

Dijon, France Authorities in France apprehended one of two prisoners who escaped from Dijon Prison on Thursday by using bed sheets to climb out of their cell after cutting through the bars, according to local prosecutors.

The captured individual, described as the older of the two, is a 32-year-old man facing charges of violence against a partner. He was arrested south of Dijon, where the jailbreak took place. The younger escapee, a 19-year-old linked to an attempted murder in a drug-related conflict, remains at large, with around 100 police officers actively searching for him, prosecutors said.

The local prosecutor noted that the younger man might have been recruited to resolve a dispute connected to drug trafficking. The two mens absence was first noticed early Thursday morning. The 32-year-old left a note in his cell expressing frustration at being detained for too long, though the exact duration of his imprisonment was not specified.

Prison staff reported that the inmates used manual saw blades to break through their cell bars. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez praised police for the capture of one fugitive via a message on social media platform X.

Dijon Prison, constructed in 1853, suffers from severe overcrowding, housing 311 inmates in a facility built for 180, according to the Ministry of Justice. A recently released prisoner recounted being one of three men crammed into a single cell, with two on bunk beds and one on the floor.

This escape follows another incident in Rennes earlier this month, where a 37-year-old prisoner fled during a supervised outing and was later recaptured in Nantes. The Rennes prison director was dismissed, sparking protests from union representatives who argue that high-security prisons for drug offenders receive disproportionate attention and resources at the expense of other facilities.

The recent jailbreak adds to concerns over security as French prisons face chronic overcrowding and deteriorating conditions. The events come shortly after a high-profile theft at the Louvre museum in Paris, in which thieves stole valuable imperial jewels.

Author: Sophia Brooks