Jacques Mesrine: France's Infamous Outlaw

Jacques Mesrine, a notorious French criminal, embarked on a relentless crime spree, robbing countless banks, escaping from prison four times, and earning the title of "Public Enemy Number One" in France and Canada. After serving in a torture squad during the Algerian War, Mesrine returned to Paris as a hardened criminal and committed numerous bank heists.

He sought refuge in Quebec, where he kidnapped a billionaire for ransom. During a prison stint in Canada, Mesrine orchestrated a daring escape using pliers and later attempted to free other inmates. Back in France, he waged a war against bankers, often robbing multiple banks in a single day to outsmart the police.

Mesrine was a master of disguise and escape plans but also enjoyed the media spotlight, giving interviews and posing with machine guns. His popularity dwindled after he tortured a journalist and attempted to kidnap a judge and a wealthy businessman. Finally, in 1979, he met a dramatic end when he was ambushed by a heavily armed police team, ending his life in a hail of bullets.