The students of the Jean-Baptiste-Dumas high school in Alès were able to return to their establishment around 10 a.m. this Saturday, December 9 after the intrusion alert launched two hours earlier.
The police forces are leaving the scene at 10:20 a.m. this Monday, December 9.
After being deployed in the establishment following an alert launched due to a suspicious intrusion, the Alès police, supported by forces from Nîmes, authorized the students to return to their classrooms mid-morning.
Started from a misunderstanding
According to Alesian commissioner Emmanuel Dumas, the intrusion alert was launched following the testimony of a student, who saw a man entering with, possibly, a handgun. The individual turned out to be an employee of the establishment carrying a cell phone in a holster attached to his belt.
Fake news alert
For security reasons “the entire establishment was searched”. No handgun was found. Other neighboring establishments were also confined for security purposes during the intervention.
Commissioner Emmanuel Dumas insists on one point: “contrary to numerous false information and videos that have appeared on social networks, there was no hostage taking in the establishment.” Since the start of the alert, around 8:15 a.m., videos had in fact shown one or more armed men apparently circulating within the JBD compound. Videos that turn out to be false for law enforcement.
