prisons came under attack last night with several vehicles set on fire and automatic weapons fired. French justice ministersaid: "Attempts have been made to intimidate staff in several prisons, ranging from burning vehicles to firing automatic weapons.

"I am going to Toulon to support the officers concerned. The is facing up to the problem of drug trafficking and is taking measures that will massively disrupt the criminal networks." Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, also posting on X, said: "The State's response must be implacable. Those who attack prisons and prison officers should be locked up in these prisons and watched over by these officers."

"The State's response must be implacable. Those who attack prisons and prison officers should be locked up in these prisons and watched over by these officers."

French media said at least six prisons have been targeted although injuries have been reported.

The FO Justice prison guard union voiced its "deep concern and anger" after what it described as a series of "extremely serious" overnight attacks.

In a string of posts on X, the union shared photos of bullet-riddled windows at Toulon prison and charred vehicles in other prison car parks.

It commented: "An individual on a scooter has just set fire to two vehicles in the parking lot of the Valence prison. The fire brigade and the police have just arrived on the scene.

"The FO Justice union condemns this criminal act in the strongest possible terms.

"It is worrying to note that some people no longer hesitate to directly attack the prison's property, a symbol of state authority.

"Enough is enough. Full support for the Valencia CP agents."

The national anti-terrorism prosecutor is understood to have confirmed that it is taking charge of the investigation

French media outlets reported that prisons in Toulon, Valence and Marseille have all been targeted.

In Toulon, reported Le Parisien, the prison entrance shot at, with the shooters were inside a car and escaped. Nobody was injured.

In Nanterre, Villepinte and Valence, vehicles belonging to staff were burned.

In Marseille prison staff accommodation was targeted, with two cars torched and nine more having "DDPF" spray painted on them standing for Droit des prisoner francais ("Rights of French prisoners"). Similar incidents were reported at Luynes-Aix, Nimes, Reau and Agen.

The attacks come just days after three prison officers at HMP Frankland were injured by Manchester bomb plotter - although there is no suggestion of any link.