PARIS (AP) - A fugitive French prisoner, Mohamed Amra, who was the subject of an extensive international manhunt following his deadly escape nine months ago, was apprehended in Romania on Saturday, according to the French government.

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau expressed gratitude to "all the forces who permitted the arrest" of Amra via a post on X. However, Retailleau’s office did not provide immediate details regarding the circumstances of the arrest.

Amra’s escape last May was marked by violence, as two prison guards were killed during the operation orchestrated by armed assailants who aided him in breaking free from a prison convoy in Normandy. This incident set off a high-profile search for the fugitive, drawing significant attention from both law enforcement and media outlets.

The 30-year-old Amra had been sentenced for burglary in Évreux, Normandy, before his escape. In addition to his previous convictions, he was under investigation for more serious crimes, including an attempted organized homicide and a kidnapping that resulted in the death of a victim. Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau noted that Amra had ties to organized crime syndicates in Marseille and was suspected of leading a drug trafficking network.

Amra's criminal history dates back to his early teenage years, with his first offenses occurring between the ages of 11 and 14. He has been nicknamed "La Mouche" (The Fly) and has also been known by several other aliases, including "Yanis," "Momo," and "Schtroumpf" (Smurf). His notoriety and violent past have made him a significant figure within the ongoing challenges faced by French law enforcement regarding organized crime and the management of high-risk prisoners.

Amra’s escape and the subsequent violence highlighted the difficulties in ensuring the security of prisoners deemed to be high-risk, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the measures in place within the French prison system. The international hunt for him emphasized the far-reaching implications of his criminal activities and the complexities of tackling organized crime in France.