Two inmates escape French prison by sawing through cell bars

Dramatic prison break in Dijon exposes systemic problems

In a daring overnight escape that has exposed serious security flaws in France's prison system, two inmates successfully fled from Dijon prison by sawing through their cell bars and using bed sheets to scale barbed wire fences. The escape, which occurred on November 27, 2025, wasn't discovered until morning, leaving authorities scrambling to locate the fugitives who remain at large.

The escapees and their methods

The two prisoners include a 19-year-old man held in pre-trial detention for attempted murder in a drug-related case and a 32-year-old man incarcerated for domestic violence threats. According to Le Monde, the younger inmate has ties to organized crime and a lengthy criminal record. The escape method involved cutting through cell bars, likely using tools that may have been smuggled into the facility, then using bed sheets to navigate over multiple security fences topped with barbed wire.

"This escape reveals serious vulnerabilities in our prison security system," said a local prosecutor who spoke on condition of anonymity. "The fact that they could saw through bars and escape undetected for hours is deeply concerning."

Second escape in ten days

This incident marks the second prison escape in France within just ten days, following another high-profile case in Rennes where a 37-year-old convicted thief escaped during an outing to a local planetarium. That escape prompted Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin to fire the Rennes prison director, a move that drew mixed reactions from prison staff unions.

A prison officer from the Dijon facility, speaking anonymously due to fear of reprisals, told reporters: "We've been warning about deteriorating conditions for months. Overcrowding makes proper supervision nearly impossible, and security measures are stretched to breaking point."

France's prison overcrowding crisis

The Dijon prison escape highlights France's severe prison overcrowding problem. According to recent statistics, French prisons reached a record high of 83,681 inmates in May 2025, while facilities are designed to hold only 62,570 prisoners - creating an occupancy rate of 133.7%. The Dijon facility itself is designed for 180 inmates but currently houses 311 prisoners, operating at approximately 173% capacity.

France ranks as the third worst country in Europe for prison overcrowding, behind only Cyprus and Romania, according to Council of Europe reports. The overcrowding has led to what human rights organizations describe as "appalling conditions" with inmates sometimes forced to sleep on mattresses placed directly on cell floors.

Government response and security concerns

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin has faced increasing pressure to address prison security issues. Following the Rennes escape, he announced plans for massive prison searches across all French facilities by the end of 2025 and proposed legislation that would treat narcotraffickers with the same severity as terrorists in prison.

However, prison unions have criticized the minister's approach. "Focusing resources on high-security facilities while neglecting the majority of prisons is creating dangerous imbalances," said a representative from the prison directors' union. "We need comprehensive reform, not just reactive measures after escapes occur."

The escapes come amid ongoing security concerns in France, including the high-profile escape of notorious drug baron Mohamed Amra in May 2024. The recent incidents have reignited debates about prison reform, security protocols, and the balance between rehabilitation and public safety in France's criminal justice system.