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.
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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.
Australian Associated Press
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