Gang attacks French jail with bazooka,frees inmate

Reuters ^ | 03/12/2003

[Straight Vermonter]

PARIS, March 12 (Reuters) - A commando-style gang used a bazooka to blow its way into a prison near Paris and free one of the inmates in a pre-dawn raid on Wednesday, officials said.

The gang of four or five men machine-gunned watchtowers at the prison, in Fresnes to the east of the French capital and near Disneyland Paris, before rushing inside to the cell of Antonio Ferrara, who was serving time for organised crime.

"The commando gang entered the high-security section of the prison and gave Antonio Ferrara explosives which allowed him to blow open the bars on the window of his cell," said Christophe Marques, a prison officers' representative from the FO union.

The gang then left together by car. No one was injured.

Television pictures showed a hole blown in a door to the prison and burned out cars lining streets nearby.

[Neanderthal]

I guess the french aren't all wimps . . .

[Caipirabob]

*SIGH*

This article is so full of holes that it is almost completely worthless. No wonder Rueters is dying a slow, painful financial death. Who were the suspects? What was the motive? Who was the prisoner and what was he in for? I can guess at the answers with current events these days, but why bother writing the article if you don't even bother to include the basic facts?

[noutopia]

This is BS the French dont have the ball$ to do this.

[friendly]

In New Jersey it is much easier. Mafia members just give money to Governor Jim McGreevey (Democrat) and walk out with instant parole.

[Caipirabob]

OOOOPS...my bad...missed the key line. Jeez I need more coffee...

[ppaul]

I guess the french aren't all wimps . . .

They weren't French.
They were Italians.

[DainBramage]

A bazooka seems a little a little heavy handed. I wonder if they considered yelling BOO,

and waiting a couple of mninutes for them to let him out.

[MEG33]

HeHe

[SubMareener]

I guess this tells us how good the French really are at "containment!" ;-)

[Rain-maker]

Antonio Ferrara, sounds more like Italian or Sicilian to me. French are still wimps.

[dennisw]

Quel dramatique!! Did I mispell? I don't care since it's those wild and crazy Froggies.

[laz17]

[Straight Vermonter]

Probably a Corsican.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Couldn't these guys just go to the gate and say "If you don't let him out we'll do something really mean?" No they had to get violent for no reason. They should have given the guards a chance to surrender. This is an very mean spirited I can only hope there was no name calling.

[mhking]

"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....

If you want on or off this list, please let me know!

[lavaroise]

Ferrara is a Marseille or Italian name, in other words it ain't French. The ones surrendering were the guards on the watch towers.

[Nick Thimmesch]

Cool.

[CatoRenasci]

So, the cheese-eating-surrender-monkeys can't even keep their jails secure! once upon a time, criminals feared the French police, le Flics, as very, very tough. Now, I guess they're just for show, and to harrass American tourists.

My contempt for the French increases daily.

[Between the Lines]

This is what happens when you have holidays like Bastille Day.