15H00 / According to CNews, A doctor has been released. However, four hostages remain.
Since the end of the morning, the central house of Arles, located in the northern industrial zone of the city, a few kilometers from the center, has been the scene of a hostage taking.
According to La Provence, an inmate took refuge in the establishment's infirmary, where he held five people under threat of a homemade bladed weapon: four members of the medical staff and a prison guard.
A worrying profile
The perpetrator of this hostage-taking is a 37-year-old man, very unfavorably known to the police and the justice system. Sentenced to 18 years in prison for sexual offenses, he was reported for radicalization in 2013.
However, according to the first information available, this action is not jihadist motivated. The inmate allegedly acted out of his dissatisfaction with the refusal of his transfer to another establishment.
Reinforced security system
In response to this situation, several police officers were deployed around the prison, awaiting the intervention of the ERIS teams (Regional Intervention and Security Teams). These specialized units, created in 2003, have the mission of strengthening the security of penitentiary establishments and intervening in the event of serious disturbances.
Furthermore, the Bouches-du-Rhône police prefect has activated the RAID, which could intervene as reinforcement if the situation were to deteriorate.
The situation remains evolving and a rapid outcome is hoped to guarantee the safety of the hostages and prison staff.
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