the essential
Friday evening a man was arrested, while carrying a revolver, while screening a round table 10 years after the jihadist attack on the premises of Charlie Hebdo. During the search, several weapons were discovered. Fortunately all charged blank.
This Friday evening, at the headquarters of the Haute-Garonne departmental council, in Toulouse, the tension rose a notch. A round table entitled “Freedom of expression: 10 years later, what remains of the Charlie spirit?” took place in memory of the victims of the Charlie Hebdo attack. The event, bringing together some 350 participants, was marked by the arrest of a man in possession of a revolver at the screening point.
A chilling discovery
Shortly after 7 p.m., an individual with a computerized invitation appeared at the conference entrance. During a search, security agents allegedly discovered a revolver whose barrel contained five blank bullets. According to initial information, the weapon could be neutralized. The man, unknown to the police, was immediately taken into custody.
We learned this morning that a search of his home led to the seizure of nine other weapons, including six pistols and three revolvers, as well as another weapon found in his vehicle. Fortunately, all were loaded with blanks.
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INFO LA DEPECHE. An armed man arrested at the entrance to a conference in tribute to Charlie Hebdo in Toulouse
An ongoing investigation
For the moment, the suspect's motives remain unknown. Justice will have to determine whether this act is the work of an unbalanced person or whether it responds to religious or political motivations. At the same time, security measures during public events are at the heart of concerns.
A conference under close surveillance
The guests, including Thibaut Bruttin, general director of Reporters Without Borders, and Antonio Fischetti, journalist at Charlie Hebdo since 1997, continued their interventions despite the incident. The event was an opportunity to return to the fundamental values of freedom of expression, which have been put to the test since the 2015 attack.
