Home GLOBAL NEWS BY A WHISKER! French president escapes accidental discharge

BY A WHISKER! French president escapes accidental discharge

360
0

Two people were wounded when a weapon was accidentally fired Tuesday as French President François Hollande was giving a speech in the western city of Villognon, the mayor told CNN.

Hollande was not injured, but two other people were, Mayor Claude Guitton said. Their injuries were not life-threatening.

According to CNN affiliate BFM-TV, a local police officer aiding in the security detail for the President’s visit accidentally discharged his weapon.

The officer is a sniper and was positioned on top of a building, the Prefet of Charente Pierre N’Gahane told BFM-TV.

READ ALSO  Aso Rock Accidental Discharge: Presidency reassures of safety

The President was speaking at the inauguration of a high-speed train line.

Video on the French presidential Élysée website showed Hollande speaking, and then a gunshot is heard. “I hope it is nothing serious,” he said. “I don’t think so.”

An investigation has been opened.

“This seems to have been an accident,” Guitton said. He said Hollande has since left the city.

No other details were released about the injured.

It would be recalled that President Hollande had survived a suicide attack in 2015 at the Stade de France when three suicide bombers exploded themselves killing 129 people and injuring many.

READ ALSO  Senate to screen INEC nominees ahead of Kogi, Bayelsa elections

The president was watching France play Germany when his bodyguard leaned over and told him of the chaos unfolding in Paris.

Hollande was said to have been evacuated from the stadium when the first suicide bomb explosion outside was heard.

The three explosions outside the venue were among a series of coordinated attacks which happened in Paris on Nov.13, 2015.

 

Curled from NAN

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.