Two inmates escaped from Dijon prison on November 27, including 19-year-old Yannick T., held for attempted murder. While one was recaptured, the other remains at large, instilling fear in the victim's family. They worry about recidivism to « finish the job » and demand police protection.
On November 27, around 7 a.m., two inmates from Dijon penitentiary escaped by sawing the bars of their ground-floor cells in the disciplinary wing, using metal saw blades likely delivered by drone, according to prosecutor Olivier Caracotch. They used sheets to scale the razor-wire topped wall before exiting through the gate opened for staff. The 32-year-old was arrested less than 24 hours later in a regional bar-PMU. Yannick T., 19, deemed the most dangerous with multiple juvenile incarcerations, remains actively sought.
Yannick T. was held provisionally for an attempted murder in Montbéliard in October 2024, tied to a narcotraffic-related settling of scores. Recruited with two accomplices to carry out a hit on Yanis L., he arrived at the victim's home armed with a Kalashnikov. « My client defended himself, it led to a scene of chaos and that's what allowed him to avoid death », Me Saïd Harir, Yanis L.'s lawyer, tells Le Figaro.
The victim's family – his mother and sisters, still living in the same place – lives in fear. In an email to their lawyer, accessed by Le Figaro, the older sister writes: « We take [his escape] as a very very very real threat of recidivism to “finish the job” ». The younger adds: « I'm afraid of being killed, shot at by the one who came with a big gun in front of my bedroom window ». They mention a fire on the night of April 1-2, where their door and vehicles were set ablaze, seen by Me Harir as part of escalating intimidation.
Montbéliard's prosecutor's office states no link exists to the fire and there is « no identified threat against the family », as the target was Yanis L., protected in custody. Me Harir disagrees: « Since his escape, we keep saying this young man is dangerous so we can't risk throwing this family to the wolves. » No protection has been granted yet, despite requests.