A hostage taking is underway at Arles prison, staff members detained

An inmate currently has four nurses and a supervisor.

A hostage taking is in progress, Friday January 3, at the Arles central house, in Bouches-du-Rhône, France Télévisions learned from a union source, confirming information from Provence. An inmate has been holding four nurses and a supervisor since around 11:15 a.m. A crisis meeting is underway and the Minister of Justice could speak soon, specifies a prison source.

The hostage taker is 37 years old, born in Guyana, incarcerated for acts of rape at gunpoint. He was eligible for release in 2031 and known to have psychiatric problems, a police source told franceinfo. He “is not considered radical Islamic”nor particularly monitored, adds a prison source. According to a police source, the detainee threatened the five people with homemade picks. This inmate explains that he wants to be changed penitentiary center. The Raid, the Eris (regional intervention and security teams) and the local security teams are mobilized on site.