Paris helicopter jailbreak fails

French police officers inspect the helicopter used in the escape attempt

PARIS, France - Two prison guards are being held hostage in a jail near Paris after inmates failed in a jailbreak attempt by helicopter.

Police said two prisoners, serving jail terms for murder and armed robbery, initially seized three guards but later released one of them.

The inmates abandoned their attempted breakout after guards opened fire on the helicopter they were hoping to escape in.

A specialised police unit was in talks to release the two still held at Fresnes prison, south of the capital, police sources said.

Witnesses who saw the attempted jail break said a rope ladder was lowered from the helicopter as it circled over the prison. But the prisoners were unable to reach it.

The prisoners' accomplices had earlier hijacked the helicopter and taken pilot hostage.

Prison guards opened fire when a bag of weapons was tossed from the helicopter into the prison courtyard, French television channel LCI said.

The helicopter was later found abandoned on a nearby football pitch, the police source said, adding that its pilot had been freed.

French media said at least one prison guard was hurt in the attempted jailbreak.