This man “with a drug addict profile” according to a source close to the case, and who according to a police source had already “committed similar acts” at home in 2022 “with threat” of suicide”held in the restaurant “four employees” but neither “clientele nor public”.
He locked himself there a few dozen meters from the Paris ring road, southwest of the capital, just before 1 p.m., this source also indicated.
No injuries
Personnel from the BRI (Research and Intervention Brigade, an elite unit of the Paris police) were deployed on site, including a mediator, “committed due to the person concerned’s desire to commit suicide”specifies the police source. The role of mediators is to enter into negotiations with the madmen.
The man, aged around 35-40 years old according to a source close to the case, was also not known to the courts.
The four people held hostage were released around 4:00 p.m., a police source told AFP, specifying that the detainee had been arrested. The intervention took place without incident, there were no injuries, this source said.
“I see him every evening in passing, he’s not well. He has a drug problem I think”said Anthony, a 23-year-old student, who prefers not to give his last name.
“I saw the police arriving earlier, it’s impressive… I’ve already been to the restaurant, there was no problem”added Monique Teichet, retiree and resident of the neighborhood.
The police had installed red and white tape to block access to a large perimeter, and asked the many curious residents of neighboring buildings to move away from their windows.
“Intervention in progress, let the security and emergency forces work”had written the police headquarters on “incident in progress”.
