French justice minister Eric Dupond-Moretti has just confirmed that two officers have died and three others are seriously injured – two in a critical condition. Earlier local police had said three officers had died.

“Our country is in mourning,” said the minister.

“This morning, during a judicial extraction between the Evreux judicial court and Rouen prison, a man escaped, and to carry out his escape, his accomplices did not hesitate to shoot at the police escorts with heavy weapons.

“Two men died, one of them leaving behind a wife and two children who were due to celebrate their 21st birthday in two days’ time”, he said.

“The other leaves behind a five-month pregnant wife, relatives, and, of course, friends,” he added. “My first thoughts are for them.”

“Also in my thoughts are the three injured, the three seriously injured who are currently in hospital,” he went on. “The prognosis for two of them is currently life-threatening”.

Mr Dupond-Moretti, who appeared in shock, added: “The last deaths in the prison service date back to 1992.” He announced that he would be travelling to Caen, northern France, where the slain officers were based, to meet their colleagues.

“These are people for whom life means nothing”, the minister said concerning the criminal commando. “They will be arrested, they will be tried and they will be punished in a way that is commensurate with the crime they committed.”