A 20-year-old man escaped from a French prison in Corbas, near Lyon, on Friday by hiding in the bag of a released prisoner. Authorities announced this on Saturday.
According to French media outlet BFM Lyon, the escape was only noticed on Saturday.
The escaped prisoner was serving multiple prison sentences. Additionally, investigations are ongoing in other cases, including those related to organized crime. The Lyon Public Prosecutor’s Office is therefore also investigating whether a criminal gang was involved in the escape, reports Le Parisien.
Police are searching for the man in the wider area. The prison management has launched an internal investigation into the escape.
In May, the prison in Corbas made headlines because it was allegedly overcrowded. On May 1, 2025, there were nearly 1,218 people, while the prison is actually only intended for 678 people. “Which amounts to an occupancy rate of almost 180 percent,” according to BFM Lyon.