France drops terrorism probe into prison attacks, cites organised crime

French anti-terror prosecutors said Friday they were dropping an investigation into 30 suspects linked to a wave of prison attacks, determining the acts fell under the scope of “major organised crime”.

Attackers in April struck at several jails and other facilities across France, torching cars, spraying the entrance of one prison with automatic gunfire and leaving mysterious inscriptions.

A total of 30 people, including four minors, were arrested this week in police raids across France. Seven of them were released without charge.

The assaults have embarrassed the right-leaning government whose tough-talking ministers of justice, Gérald Darmanin, and interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, have vowed to intensify the fight against narcotics and drug-related crime.

Read more: France 24