The Paris public prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, has expressed unwavering confidence in the ongoing investigation into the brutal ambush in Incarville (Eure), which resulted in the deaths of two prison officers. She assured that the relentless efforts of the investigators would lead to the capture of the suspects involved in this heinous crime. 'The outcome of this investigation, which I do not doubt for a moment, will be the arrest of the perpetrators and the initiation of judicial proceedings so that they can be held accountable for their actions before the Assize Court,' Beccuau stated on BFMTV.
On May 14, prison captain Fabrice Moello and brigadier supervisor Arnaud Garcia were killed by an armed commando that intercepted their convoy at the Incarville motorway tollbooth. The convoy was transporting repeat offender Mohamed Amra, who managed to escape during the attack. In addition to the two fatalities, three other prison officers were seriously injured. French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to pay a national tribute to the fallen officers on Wednesday.
Since the attack, a massive manhunt has been underway. The fugitive Mohamed Amra and his accomplices are being pursued by 350 investigators across the country and internationally, with a 'red notice' issued by Interpol at the request of French authorities. This is part of an extraordinary investigation mobilizing several hundred investigators and an entire section of the Paris prosecutor's office 24 hours a day.
Beccuau emphasized the seriousness of the investigation, stating that 'criminal intent and homicide' were clear, and no stones are being left unturned. 'Investigators have serious leads and are working on everyone they need to work on,' she remarked. The thoroughness of the investigation is seen as a duty owed to the victims, their families, and all prison officers who serve justice daily.
Organized crime's ruthless nature was underscored by Beccuau, who declared that 'violence is limitless when organized crime wants to achieve its goals'. She added that 'when dealing with serious organized crime, the only doctrine is that the end justifies the means. If the means are those of violence, they will be deployed against rivals, those seen as traitors, and those who obstruct their criminal actions, such as police officers and prison officers'.
As the hunt for the perpetrators continues, the possibility of their surrender remains on the table. Beccuau suggested that turning themselves in would be in the best interest of those involved, given the extreme violence exercised during the attack. 'It would position them more favorably compared to the criminal actions and extreme violence evident at the scene,' she commented.
- The ambush on May 14 at the Incarville tollbooth remains a critical point in the investigation. With extensive efforts to locate Mohamed Amra and his co-conspirators, law enforcement agencies across borders are on high alert. The international aspect of the search, facilitated by Interpol's red notice, illustrates the global dimension of the hunt.
- The victims' families and colleagues continue to receive support from the wider community and government. National tributes, such as the one led by President Macron at Les Invalides, signify the gravitas of the event and highlight the bravery and sacrifice of the involved officers. Minister of Justice Éric Dupond-Moretti's presence further underscores the official commitment to addressing this grievous attack.
