A notorious robber has escaped from jail after blasting through five doors with explosives and taking several wardens hostage, reports Sky News.
Police and helicopters are hunting Redoine Faid, one of France's most dangerous gangsters who is known for robbing vehicles carrying cash in transit.
State prosecutor Frederic Fevre said Faid was a "particularly dangerous prisoner" who was armed and still in possession of explosives.
He said Faid, 40, had four hostages with him during the jail break in the northern town of Sequedin.
One was released just outside the prison and another a few hundred metres away, before the final two were left along a road.
The wardens were said to be extremely shocked, but safe.
Faid later set his getaway car on fire, abandoning it south of the city of Lille, and then got into a second vehicle which police were attempting to track.
Read more of this report from Sky News.