Paris - Two inmates of a prison south of Paris were holding two guards hostage yesterday after their attempt to escape by helicopter went awry, police said.
The two prisoners, serving jail terms for murder and armed robbery, climbed onto the roof of Fresnes prison with their hostages, but failed to reach a rope ladder lowered from the helicopter by accomplices who had taken the pilot hostage.
The prisoners threw roof tiles at prison officers, before recovering a sports bag containing firearms which was dropped from the helicopter, and opening fire, a witness said.