Article

2019-05-08 Europe

Gunman takes 4 hostages in southern France

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Posted by Fred 2019-05-08 00:00|| || Front Page|| [6 views ] Top

#1 All hostages have been released after a gunman on Tuesday held several people in a bar-tobacco shop in southwestern France.

The suspect, armed and wearing a motorcycle helmet, burst into the cafe at 4.15pm local time.

According to La Dépêche du Midi, the local newspaper, the suspect is "known to police" for petty crime. He is 17 years old and his first name is Yanis.

Early reports suggested he had taken five people hostage. Most on Tuesday evening said he was holding at least four people.

According to La Dépeche, all were women, including the manager and staff.

The suspect tied them up but let one woman go at 7.30pm local time, it said. The rest were released around 9pm.

The man opened fire at police twice when they tried to approach the shop in Blagnac, a town near Toulouse airport, where he is holed up, said the national daily.

Security forces cordoned off the area and local elite RAID police officers attended the scene. Others were flown in from RAID headquarters near Paris.

France's interior minister, Christophe Castaner was on his way to the scene.

Posted by Bright Pebbles 2019-05-08 14:13|| 2019-05-08 14:13|| Front Page Top

#2 Daily Mail: Yellow Vest gunman, 17, arrested

The teen, 'who is nearly 18, has a police record for incidents of violence, notably against police officers, for robbery, and also for participating in December in a "yellow vest" (anti-government) protest during which he was arrested,' Toulouse chief prosecutor Dominique Alzeari earlier told a news conference.

He left a letter at his home 'in which he seemed fairly depressive, or at least worried about his state of health, and he made mention of the 'yellow vest' movement but stating that the act he was about to commit would not go beyond what turned out to be not so impressive,' he said.

Posted by trailing wife 2019-05-08 16:43|| 2019-05-08 16:43|| Front Page Top

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