‘The Fly’ has become notorious in France after a brazen escape. What’s his criminal history?

PARIS — A prisoner nicknamed “The Fly” has become famous in France overnight after a daring and bloody escape from a prison convoy in Normandy in which two guards were killed.

Mohamed Amra, 30, has a long and violent criminal history which has now culminated in a high-profile search.

Known as “La Mouche” (The Fly), Amra has also been known by other aliases such as “Yanis”, “Momo” and “Schtroumpf” (Smurf). According to French media, these nicknames reflect her elusive nature and extensive activities.

Amra was born on March 10, 1994 in Rouen, a port city on the banks of the Seine River. His adolescence was colorful, marked by early run-ins with the law. Her first crimes occurred between the ages of 11 and 14 and consisted of violence, robbery and extortion, according to the Paris prosecutor. Growing up in a troubled environment in Normandy, he quickly became involved in a life of crime.

At 15, Amra was already famous among local authorities. Recently convicted of robbery by the Evreux judicial court on May 10, he is also being investigated for an attempted organized murder in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray and a kidnapping resulting in death. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau claimed Amra had important connections to organized crime syndicates in Marseille and was suspected of running a drug trafficking network.

He was recently detained in the Val de Reuil prison, near Rouen, following his recent conviction for robbery. He was previously imprisoned in La Sante prison in Paris and in Les Baumettes in Marseille. Despite not being classified as a higher-risk inmate, he did require high security during his transfers, requiring an escort of three guards, which was recently increased to five, according to officials.

Just days before her escape on Tuesday, Amra attempted to saw through the bars of her cell, leading to her isolation, authorities said. Guards discovered that he was using duct tape to hide his actions, according to French media reports.

Amra’s extensive criminal history reads like a dark novel: gun violence, extortion, drug trafficking and organized crime. Police have described him as “versatile and opportunistic,” engaging in a variety of criminal activities to increase his income. This includes, according to Le Monde, orchestrating kidnappings and extortion from his cell phone using encrypted messaging applications such as Signal.

Amra’s escape and violent history have made him a symbol of the challenges French law enforcement faces in combating organized crime and ensuring the safety of high-risk prisoners. The national search for “The Fly” continues as authorities remain determined to put him back in custody and bring his attackers to justice.