PARIS - Two men have escaped from jail in the eastern French city of Dijon by sawing through the bars of their cell and abseiling to freedom using bedsheets, German Press Agency (dpa) reported.
The men, aged 19 and 32, were in pre-trial custody, the broadcaster BFMTV reported on Thursday, citing prosecutors.
The 19-year-old is under investigation in connection with an attempted contract murder and membership of a criminal organisation. He has a criminal record. The 32-year-old is accused of threats and serious violence against his female partner.
The prisoners made their escape shortly before dawn, the union representing prison staff said.
It added in a statement that the union had for months pointed to security shortcomings at the prison, which had been ignored by the authorities.
In a separate case, police have arrested another escaped prisoner who used an organised prison excursion to a planetarium to escape from a prison in Rennes in the west of the country, media reports said.
The prison director has been suspended. - BERNAMA-dpa