Fugitive eludes French police

Police control access to the village of Serignan

French police hunting a fugitive who killed four men have admitted they are no nearer catching him, three days into a massive manhunt.

For the moment there is no certainty about anything

Narbonne prosecutor
Yolande Renzi

Nearly 500 officers as well as dogs and helicopters are being used in the chase, focusing on a small area around Saint Marcel sur Aude, in the south-west of the country.

Albert Foulcher, a 50-year-old former insurance salesman, went on the rampage in Narbonne on Monday.

He killed two policemen and two men who testified against him at a trial in April, where he was convicted in his absence of murdering a colleague.

Roadblock incident

He evaded arrest after Monday's shootings, despite being spotted several times on the A9 motorway, and smashing his way through a roadblock between Nimes and Montpellier.

"He must stop this madness, it's getting him nowhere. Otherwise he'll be killed like a dog," his brother Philippe Foulcher told Radio Sud.

In 1993, Albert Foulcher was jailed while a judicial investigation into the murder of a business associate was being conducted.

He was released three years later after his case failed to come to trial, on condition that he reported regularly to police.

However, he disappeared in 1998. After his conviction in absentia in April, an international warrant was issued for his arrest.

"At the moment we are trying to establish how and where he spent his time since last June. We have several teams working in a number of locations, but for the moment there is no certainty about anything," said Narbonne prosecutor Yolande Renzi.

Those killed on Monday included Mr Foulcher's former colleague, Pascal Herrero, who had given evidence against him at the trial.

He then shot dead two police officers who arrived at the scene, before fleeing in a stolen car.

Driving to an area 10km northeast of Narbonne, he killed Maurice Michaud, a former business associate who also testified at the trial.

Mr Foulcher left the scene in Mr Michaud's car, sparking a police chase that lasted through the night.

Police indignation

Foulcher was arrested in 1993, released, then given a life sentence in his absence - is that not lax justice?

Police union spokesman

"We are seeing him a little bit everywhere, unfortunately," said one police officer - who added that Mr Foulcher had changed direction several times.

Police have now provided bodyguards for two more people connected with the murder trial.

Police unions have expressed indignation that a convicted murderer such as Foulcher could remain at large to pursue his vengeance.

"Foulcher was arrested in 1993, released, then given a life sentence in his absence. Is that not lax justice?" said Joaquin Masanet of the UNSA union.