The hostage taking in progress since the end of the morning of Friday January 3 at Arles prison (Bouches-du-Rhône) ended without injuries. The inmate who was holding five people in the health unit of the central house has surrendered, according to several police sources.
“The hostage taker surrendered. No injuries »indicated the Bouches-du-Rhône police headquarters. The release of the hostages “safe and sound” had been announced a few moments earlier on site by a union representative.
“The hostage situation is over, the agents and staff are safe, the detainee has surrendered” After “the intervention of Raid negotiators”indicated Jessy Zagari, FO Justice national delegate.
“The hostage taker from the Arles central house was arrested immediately. No injuries. Thank you to the prison administration teams and the Raid police officers for their intervention”indicated on X the Minister of Justice, Gérald Darmanin
Five people in total – four medical staff and a supervisor – were taken hostage shortly after 11:00 a.m. in the health unit of Arles prison, by an inmate known a priori for “significant psychiatric disorders”according to a source close to the file, and equipped with a homemade pick.
A first hostage, a doctor, was released at 2:30 p.m.
Psychologically unstable
Aged 37, the detainee, with a profile “unstable” according to several sources, is incarcerated for rape at gunpoint and had expressed his desire to be changed penitentiary center, indicated a source close to the case.
Released in 2031, the inmate presents “a psychological profile, not a terrorist profile or anything else”had specified a prison source.
