Two inmates escape French prison using drone-delivered saw blades

Two inmates escaped from the Dijon prison detention centre's disciplinary wing early Thursday after sawing through their cell bars with blades believed to have been delivered by drone, prosecutors said.

The escapees are a 19-year-old under investigation for attempted murder and criminal conspiracy, and a 32-year-old accused of threats and aggravated habitual violence against a spouse, according to local media reports citing the Force Ouvrière union.

The two, who then used blankets to jump the barbed wire fence, were in isolation without contact with the outside world, according to reports. Both are considered to be dangerous.

The FO Justice union said it had been warning for months about deteriorating security at Dijon prison. "Despite our repeated warnings, management has chosen to persist in its total blindness, refusing to see the reality on the ground," the union said in a Facebook statement.

The escape follows an inmate's flight from Rennes-Vézin prison in Ille-et-Vilaine last week during an outing to a planetarium. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin immediately dismissed the prison governor.

On Wednesday, three prison unions issued a joint statement accusing Darmanin of prioritising resources for crime-fighting operations targeting dangerous drug traffickers while neglecting prison services.

They criticised the minister's "contempt" and accused him of doing anything "to maintain his image of firmness and responsiveness."

French prisons hold some 85,000 inmates, far exceeding the official capacity of 62,509 places, according to Justice Ministry figures from July. The average occupancy rate is at 135.9%, with 29 facilities surpassing 200%.