France’s most wanted caught outside Paris

French police captured the country's most-wanted man in a hotel outside Paris on Wednesday, six weeks after he dynamited his way out of prison in a spectacular jailbreak.

Redoine Faid, 41, a notorious career thief who had been serving time for robbery and was facing a possible new sentence in connection with the 2010 death of a policewoman, was arrested around 3am at a hotel in Pontault-Combault, about 20 kilometres (12 miles) east of central Paris.

Police said he was arrested with a 29-year-old accomplice and that weapons were seized at the scene, suggesting Faid may have been preparing another heist.

Faid has since been placed under formal investigation in Lille, in accordance with French law.

Interior Minister Manuel Valls hailed police for the "thorough and effective" investigation that led to his capture.

Faid used explosives to blast his way out of the Sequedin penitentiary during his April 13 jailbreak and, armed with a pistol, briefly took four guards hostage before escaping in a waiting getaway car. All the hostages were released unharmed.

Read More: http://www.france24.com/en/20130529-france-most-wanted-fugitive-caught-hotel-paris-redoine-faid-prison