Redoine Faid

Redoine Faid Biography

Redoine Faid is a French writer, gangster, and serial jailbreaker, widely known as one of France's most infamous criminals. Born on May 10, 1972, he became notorious for masterminding audacious armed robberies and spectacular prison escapes. His criminal exploits, including dramatic helicopter prison breaks, have captured public and media attention, earning him the nickname "L'Écrivain" (the writer) due to his autobiographical book detailing his life of crime and time in Paris's banlieues.

Childhood

Redoine Faid was born in Creil, a northern French town, to Algerian immigrant parents who arrived in France in 1969. He was the penultimate child in a large family with eight brothers and three sisters. His father worked in a chemical factory but deserted the family in 1988 to return to Algeria. Tragically, his mother died of leukemia in 1991 when Faid was 19 years old. Growing up in the rough neighborhoods around Paris, Faid was already involved in delinquency during his youth, which laid the foundation for his later criminal career.

Education

There is limited information about formal education or professional training in Redoine Faid’s background. However, during his years on the run, he spent time in Switzerland and Israel, where he claimed to have disguised himself as an Orthodox Jew, learning Hebrew and firearms skills from an Israeli soldier. His self-education reflects street savvy and survival skills rather than conventional academic training.

Career

In the mid-1990s, Redoine Faid led a criminal gang involved in armed robbery, extortion, and jewel theft in the Paris region. His operations included robbing armored trucks, utilizing tactics inspired by Hollywood gangster films such as "Scarface" and "Heat." Faid has openly acknowledged modeling his criminal methods on such movies. Arrested in 1998 after years on the run, he was sentenced to 30 years but released on parole after 10 years. After parole violations and involvement in violent crimes including a botched armed robbery in 2010 that resulted in a policewoman's death, Faid served multiple prison sentences. He is also known for two extraordinary escapes from French prisons—in 2013 and 2018—with the latter aided by a helicopter raid. He received additional prison sentences for these escapes, extending his incarceration through much of the 21st century.

Family Life

Redoine Faid comes from a large family with multiple brothers and sisters. His older brothers, particularly Rachid and Brahim, have been involved in helping him during his criminal activities and escapes. Details about his romantic relationships or children are not widely publicized, as his notoriety centers mainly around his criminal acts and prison breaks.

Achievements

Faid's main "achievements" are tied to his criminal notoriety, including several high-profile armed robberies and audacious prison escapes. He authored a book in 2009 titled "Braqueur - Des cités au grand banditisme" (Robber - From the Projects to Organized Crime) in which he chronicles his life of crime and expresses a desire to leave that world behind. His escapes, notably the 2018 helicopter jailbreak, have been described as highly sophisticated and dramatic, captivating the public and media alike. Despite his criminal status, he has become a symbol of the French outlaw gangster.

Controversies

Redoine Faid has been at the center of numerous controversies due to his criminal activities and jail breaks. His 2010 armed robbery led to the death of a policewoman, an event for which he has been heavily criticized. His prison escapes, particularly the 2018 helicopter escape involving heavily armed accomplices, embarrassed French authorities and sparked massive manhunts. Throughout his career, Faid’s criminal methods and repeated paroles despite serious crimes have fueled public debate on justice and security. He also faced harsh sentences and trials that some critics have called disproportionate. His involvement with family members and alleged connections to other criminal groups adds complexity to his legal battles.

Redoine Faid Summary

Redoine Faid exemplifies the archetype of the French gangster intertwined with modern outlaw mystique. Born to immigrant parents and raised in tough Paris suburbs, he pursued a criminal career inspired by cinema that included organized armed robberies and remarkable prison escapes. Despite writing about his life and expressing regret, his actions have kept him repeatedly behind bars. His family ties, dramatic jailbreaks, and a fascinating criminal persona make him a notorious figure in France's contemporary criminal history. Currently serving extended prison sentences, Faid remains an icon of audacious crime and daring escapes.