Alain Prost, the quadruple Formula One world champion, was assaulted in his own home last night by a masked gang in a brazen raid that has sent shockwaves through France. Sources close to the investigation confirm the 69-year-old was injured during the incident, which occurred at his residence in the Paris suburb of Ville-d'Avray. The attackers, described as heavily masked and armed with crowbars, made off with an undisclosed haul of valuables.
Prost, hospitalised with non-life-threatening injuries, is now out of danger. French authorities have launched a full-scale manhunt, but the incident has reignited debate over the country's perceived soft touch on organised crime. France is now looking to the UK for inspiration, with officials calling for a 'British-style crackdown' on violent gangs.
The irony is palpable: the UK's own crime figures are hardly pristine, but Britain's aggressive stop-and-search powers and tougher sentencing have long been a talking point in Paris. For Prost, this is a brutal intrusion into the life of a national hero. His career on the track, marked by fierce rivalries with Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell, earned him the nickname 'The Professor' for his cool-headed strategy.
But last night, there was no strategy. Just fear. Unconfirmed reports suggest the gang may have been tailing Prost for days, a common tactic in these affluent-target raids.
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has already pledged to review anti-gang legislation, but critics say the problem runs deeper. France's burglary rates have climbed 11% year-on-year, with organised gangs exploiting porous borders and lenient bail conditions. Meanwhile, the UK's 'Flying Squad' model and Operation Venice gang suppression tactics are being studied as potential templates.
For Prost, who now joins a grim list of high-profile victims, the scars will be more than physical. For a man who has stared down Senna at 200mph, a home invasion is a different kind of terror.
