Europe

Police marksman accidentally injures two at Hollande speech

Loud noise like a gunshot heard on video footage of speech by French president

French president Francois Hollande delivers a speech at the inauguration of the new Sud Europe Atlantique high-speed rail line, in Villognon, central France. A shot was accidentally fired by a police marksman during the speech. Photograph: Yohan Bonnet/AFP/Getty Images
French president Francois Hollande delivers a speech at the inauguration of the new Sud Europe Atlantique high-speed rail line, in Villognon, central France. A shot was accidentally fired by a police marksman during the speech. Photograph: Yohan Bonnet/AFP/Getty Images
Tue Feb 28 2017 - 20:04

A police sharpshooter accidentally wounded two people as French president Francois Hollande was giving a speech in the southwest of France on Tuesday, a police source said.

The marksman was on a roof about 100 metres from a tent where Mr Hollande was speaking. During a change of position his gun fired accidentally, the source said.

A loud noise like a gunshot is heard on video footage of the president’s speech. “I hope there is nothing serious,” Mr Hollande said, then looked to his left and said, “I don’t think so.”

French president Francois Hollande attends the inauguration of the new Sud Europe Atlantique (South Europe Atlantic) high-speed rail line, linking Tours and Bordeaux, on February 28th, 2017, in Villognon, central France. Photograph: Yohan Bonnet/AFP/Getty Images
French president Francois Hollande attends the inauguration of the new Sud Europe Atlantique (South Europe Atlantic) high-speed rail line, linking Tours and Bordeaux, on February 28th, 2017, in Villognon, central France. Photograph: Yohan Bonnet/AFP/Getty Images

The shot wounded two people in their legs; the injuries were not life-threatening, a prefect of police for Charente region Pierre N'Gahane told BFM-TV.

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Reuters