Police hunt escaping detainee in south France

French police were searching for a detainee who escaped on Monday morning as he was transferred to the court in Tarascon, southern France, after "heavily armed" men attacked the convoy, the regional authorities said.

At 8:30 a.m. local time (0730 GMT), three men fired at three prison agents escorting the inmate who was expected to appear before judges in Tarascon court on charges of armed robbery, Tarascon prefect Patrick Desjardin told reporters.

"Heavily armed," hooded individuals succeeded to free the 27-year-old man in "well-prepared" operation," the prefect said.

Two prison agents were slightly wounded, according to Desjardins.