A tense situation unfolded this afternoon in the town of Issy-les-Moulineaux, where a man armed with a knife took refuge in a pizzeria, taking several people hostage. The incident began around 12h30 in the restaurant “The Olive Tree”located rue Ernest-Renan.
The facts
The suspect, described as the son of the restaurant owner, first attracted the attention of firefighters, called by a relative to take care of the man in a state of crisis. Arriving there, the madman lowered the iron curtain of commerce, retaining four employees present in the establishment. The police were immediately alerted, and a important security perimeter was put in place.
According to a source close to the case, the suspect, known to be a drug addict and familiar to the police, said he was craving cocaine. He also reportedly expressed suicidal intentions.
Rapid police intervention
The police, supported by the Research and intervention brigade (BRI) from the police headquarters, were deployed on site. A BIS negotiator took charge of discussions with the suspect to try to defuse the situation.
Towards 14h30the police headquarters broadcast a message on the social network X, asking residents to avoid the area due to the ongoing intervention.
An exit without injuries
After several tense hours, the situation was resolved happily. HAS 16h00the four hostages were released unharmed, and the suspect was arrested by the police. No injuries were reported, neither among the hostages nor among the responders.
The precise motivations of the suspect, beyond his reported state of withdrawal, still remain to be clarified. An investigation has been opened to shed light on this event.
The town hall of Issy-les-Moulineaux praised the responsiveness of the police and the outcome without the outbreak of violence.
