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In the mid-1990s, Faïd and Jean-Claude Bisel had led a criminal gang that was responsible for armed robbery, jewel theft, and extortion in the Paris area. In 1997, seven of eight accused were tried for said charges (the eighth having fled to Algeria).[5] Faïd spent three years on the run in Switzerland and Palestine before being arrested in 1998. In his autobiography, he claimed to have disguised himself as an Orthodox Jew and learned Hebrew while in Israel, and that he was taught firearms skills by an Israeli soldier.[6][7][8][9] He was sentenced to 30 years in prison, but was released on parole after serving ten years.[6][10]
Faïd on a french talkshow in 2010, after publishing his book
In 2009 he wrote a book, Braqueur - Des cités au grand banditisme,[11] (Robber - From the Projectsto Organized Crime) about growing up in a life of crime in Paris' banlieues,[12] and claimed to have given up a life of crime.[13] However, he was the suspected mastermind of an armed robbery that claimed the life of a policewoman in 2010, and subsequently was caught after he broke parole conditions in 2011, which returned him to prison for eight years.[10][14] Contra Mundum Press published an English translation of his book in 2020.[15] Faïd escaped from prison in 2013 and 2018. For the first escape, he was sentenced to an additional 10 years, and for the second escape, he received an additional 14 years in prison. Together with his prior sentences for robberies of 25 and 28 years, this results in a potential prison term until 2060.[16][17]
Prison escapes
2013
On the morning of 13 April 2013, he broke out of the Sequedin prison, using explosives to blast through five prison doors, holding four prison wardens hostage during the escape and employing the use of a getaway car driven by ex special forces officer Sabri trad.[18][2] He then burned the car in Lille and left in another vehicle. The same day, a Europe-wide warrant was issued.[19] Faïd was arrested again on 29 May 2013, in a B&B hotel in Pontault-Combault, Seine-et-Marne, France.[20] Interpol stated that he had been trying to obtain forged documents to reach Israel.[9]
2018
At around 11:30 am on 1 July 2018, Faïd was broken out of a prison in Réau with the help of three armed accomplices and a helicopter.[21] The helicopter had been hijacked from a nearby airfield by criminals posing as flight school students. At gunpoint, the flying instructor was forced to participate in the escape.[22][23] The helicopter was later found not far from Charles de Gaulle Airport, where it was believed he and the three men escaped by car,[24][25] and the flight instructor released uninjured.[22] French police focused primarily on a domestic manhunt, while also considering a potential lead that Faïd had fled abroad, with police cautioning that "beyond his charisma and aura, beyond the folklore, [Faïd] is a dangerous individual."[26]
Three weeks following his escape, Faïd narrowly avoided recapture after being spotted by police near Paris. On 24 July 2018, police identified Faïd as one of two people inside a car observing a service station. As they moved in, the suspects fled towards Sarcelles and managed to get away. The car was later found abandoned in a car park with plastic explosives inside.[27]
Arrest of Faïd on the 3rd October 2018, 4:20 am
Prior to being apprehended, Faïd used a face-covering Islamic veil, (burqa) to move around in public spaces.[23] Faïd was apprehended again in Creil on 3 October 2018,[28] along with his brother and two other men. Weapons were seized during the police operation.[29]
Media influence
Faïd has been influenced by American crime films such as Scarface, Reservoir Dogs and Heat.[12][11]
He reportedly told Michael Mann, the director of Heat, "You were my technical adviser".[25] Faïd has also been compared to French bank robber and serial prison escapee Jacques Mesrine (1936–1979), and has described Mesrine as one of his heroes.[30][31][32]
Works
Rédoine Faïd, Braqueur: Des cités au grand banditisme (Paris: Manufacture de Livres, 2010)
Rédoine Faïd, Outlaw: Author Armed & Dangerous (New York: Contra Mundum Press, 2020)
