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Armed Robber Recaptured 3 Months After Helicopter Jailbreak Armed Robber Recaptured 3 Months After Helicopter Jailbreak
(about 20 hours later)
PARIS — After three months on the run, a notorious French armed robber who made a cinematic escape by helicopter from a prison near Paris in July has been recaptured, according to local officials and the French news media.PARIS — After three months on the run, a notorious French armed robber who made a cinematic escape by helicopter from a prison near Paris in July has been recaptured, according to local officials and the French news media.
The police caught the robber, Rédoine Faïd, in an operation that unfolded between Tuesday and Wednesday in northern France after an intensive manhunt, the officials said, adding that he had been apprehended with two nephews. The police caught the robber, Rédoine Faïd, in an operation that Tuesday and Wednesday in northern France after an intensive manhunt, the officials said, adding that he had been apprehended with two nephews.
Further details on the operation were not immediately available.Further details on the operation were not immediately available.
Nicole Belloubet, France’s justice minister, said that Mr. Faïd had not resisted his arrest, which unfolded without any violence in Creil, a suburb of Paris where he had grown up. Nicole Belloubet, France’s justice minister, said that Mr. Faïd had not resisted his arrest, which took place without any violence in Creil, a suburb of Paris where he had grown up.
“He is now in custody,” Ms. Belloubet told Europe 1 radio, adding that Mr. Faïd would be detained in a “highly secure” facility and would be closely monitored.“He is now in custody,” Ms. Belloubet told Europe 1 radio, adding that Mr. Faïd would be detained in a “highly secure” facility and would be closely monitored.
Gérard Collomb, the departing interior minister, praised the capture in a post on Twitter, lauding the “pugnacity and determination” of the police who had carried out the raid. A special unit of the French National Police, the B.R.I., which handles major criminals, was responsible for Mr. Faïd’s apprehension.Gérard Collomb, the departing interior minister, praised the capture in a post on Twitter, lauding the “pugnacity and determination” of the police who had carried out the raid. A special unit of the French National Police, the B.R.I., which handles major criminals, was responsible for Mr. Faïd’s apprehension.
At the time he escaped, Mr. Faïd, 46, had been serving a 25-year sentence for masterminding a robbery that resulted in the killing of a female police officer. He contended that her death had been an accident and that he was not responsible for it.At the time he escaped, Mr. Faïd, 46, had been serving a 25-year sentence for masterminding a robbery that resulted in the killing of a female police officer. He contended that her death had been an accident and that he was not responsible for it.
Mr. Faïd, whom some in the French news media have called “the escape king” — it was not his first prison break — helped choreograph a sophisticated sequence to accomplish his July 1 flight from the penitentiary in Réau, on the outskirts of Paris, according to the authorities.Mr. Faïd, whom some in the French news media have called “the escape king” — it was not his first prison break — helped choreograph a sophisticated sequence to accomplish his July 1 flight from the penitentiary in Réau, on the outskirts of Paris, according to the authorities.
Officials said two accomplices set the plan in motion by taking a helicopter lesson, and when they returned for a second lesson, kidnapped the instructor and forced him to fly into the yard of the penitentiary, which was not covered with anti-helicopter netting.Officials said two accomplices set the plan in motion by taking a helicopter lesson, and when they returned for a second lesson, kidnapped the instructor and forced him to fly into the yard of the penitentiary, which was not covered with anti-helicopter netting.
The instructor was told to land in the prison courtyard, and while the accomplices covered the courtyard with automatic rifles, Mr. Faïd emerged after unlocking at least two prison doors, officials said. He then boarded the helicopter and the pilot flew to the north of Paris and landed in a field.The instructor was told to land in the prison courtyard, and while the accomplices covered the courtyard with automatic rifles, Mr. Faïd emerged after unlocking at least two prison doors, officials said. He then boarded the helicopter and the pilot flew to the north of Paris and landed in a field.
The helicopter was abandoned there, and the pilot was left distraught but unharmed. Mr. Faïd and his accomplices fled in a car that had been parked nearby for the next leg of the escape. The team left that vehicle in a parking lot and switched cars.The helicopter was abandoned there, and the pilot was left distraught but unharmed. Mr. Faïd and his accomplices fled in a car that had been parked nearby for the next leg of the escape. The team left that vehicle in a parking lot and switched cars.
At the time, Ms. Belloubet described the escape as “very well prepared” and said that Mr. Faïd’s accomplices might have surveyed the prison by using drones in order to determine the exact place to land the helicopter.At the time, Ms. Belloubet described the escape as “very well prepared” and said that Mr. Faïd’s accomplices might have surveyed the prison by using drones in order to determine the exact place to land the helicopter.
It was the second time that Mr. Faïd had escaped from prison. The first time, in 2013, he took four prison guards hostage while using plastic explosives to blast his way through five sets of prison doors, officials said, then met an accomplice who was waiting in a car. Mr. Faïd was recaptured several weeks later.It was the second time that Mr. Faïd had escaped from prison. The first time, in 2013, he took four prison guards hostage while using plastic explosives to blast his way through five sets of prison doors, officials said, then met an accomplice who was waiting in a car. Mr. Faïd was recaptured several weeks later.
This time, while he eluded the police somewhat longer, he had several close calls and was almost caught in July, when the police caught sight of him in the Val d’Oise.This time, while he eluded the police somewhat longer, he had several close calls and was almost caught in July, when the police caught sight of him in the Val d’Oise.
The reaction on Twitter on Wednesday to the recapture was made up mostly of congratulatory notes to the police, but here and there the response was, if anything, a little wistful. Although no one disputed Mr. Faïd had done bad things, he has gained a somewhat mythical status, and even detectives admit that he is far from an ordinary criminal.The reaction on Twitter on Wednesday to the recapture was made up mostly of congratulatory notes to the police, but here and there the response was, if anything, a little wistful. Although no one disputed Mr. Faïd had done bad things, he has gained a somewhat mythical status, and even detectives admit that he is far from an ordinary criminal.
He has told interviewers that he has a passion for action movies — particularly for those involving fantastic escapes.He has told interviewers that he has a passion for action movies — particularly for those involving fantastic escapes.
“Two prison breaks under his belt, arrested again today. Can we expect a third,” wondered one Twitter user identified as Mir Qais Khan Jamal.“Two prison breaks under his belt, arrested again today. Can we expect a third,” wondered one Twitter user identified as Mir Qais Khan Jamal.