Dijon prison escape raises security concerns in France

Collage: Kursiv.media, photo editor: Serikzhan Kovlanbayev

Two inmates escaped from the disciplinary wing of Dijon prison early Thursday. Prosecutors said they used saw blades, likely delivered by drone, to cut through the bars of their cell. The two men, aged 19 and 32, were being held on serious charges, including attempted murder, criminal conspiracy and aggravated habitual domestic violence, Euronews reported.

Initial reports say the inmates were kept in isolation with no contact with the outside world, so the tools were likely smuggled in without direct communication. After cutting the bars, the two reportedly used blankets to climb over a barbed-wire fence and left the facility before anyone noticed they were gone.

The escape has intensified scrutiny of security conditions in French prisons. The Force Ouvrière Justice union said it had been warning authorities for months about deteriorating safety conditions at Dijon prison, accusing management of failing to act despite repeated staff alerts. In a statement, the union criticized leaders for «refusing to see the reality on the ground.»