An “unprecedented” manhunt is taking place in northern France for a prisoner who escaped during a deadly ambush.
Mohamed Amra, known as “The Fly”, was being taken back to jail from a court in Normandy on Tuesday when a car rammed his prison van at a toll booth.
Armed men then opened fire on the vehicle, killing two officers and seriously injuring three others.
“All means are being used to find these criminals,” French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said.
Mr Darmanin told French media on Wednesday the attack was an act of “cold-blooded barbarity” and that around 450 gendarmes and police officers had been mobilised in the Eure department of Normandy in an “unprecedented” search.
President Emmanuel Macron has told France that “everything is being done to find the perpetrators”.
Meanwhile, French prison officer unions have called for walkouts at institutions across the country on Wednesday in support of the two who died.
In a joint statement, the unions demanded urgent measures to improve staff safety – including the “drastic reduction of extraditions” of prisoners to court hearings, by promoting video-conferencing, and an “overhaul” to escort levels.
A minute’s silence will be taking place on Wednesday at 11:00 (09:00 GMT), and there have been demonstrations outside of French prisons, including in Paris according to local media.
French Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti has said he would meet with union representatives.