Lyon. Profile of the suspects, victims… What we know about the Meyzieu hostage-taking

A first worrying alert, several armed men holed up in an apartment with two hostages, the Raid called in for reinforcements and an outcome without injuries: a hostage-taking took place this Thursday, January 16, 2025 in the morning in the town of Meyzieu ( Rhône), in the metropolis of Lyon.

Around 10 a.m., the police received a call indicating that several potentially armed individuals were holed up in an apartment with hostages.

According to our information, four suspects who were hooded held two people hostagea couple or a former couple, in their apartment located on the first floor of the “République” social residence of the social landlord Lyon Métropole Habitat, at 12B rue de la République.

Four people arrested by the Raid “in five minutes”

Shortly before 12 p.m., the prefecture confirmed news Lyon the arrest of four people. Handguns are found.

The two hostages were released and there were no injuries. A large security perimeter is set up around the building where the events took place.

One of the victims managed to contact her sister around 10:30 this morning to call her for help, telling her that she was being held captive in her home, says the mayor (Les Républicains) of Meyzieu Christophe Quiniou.

The Raid, which took place around 12 p.m., carried out its operation in “five minutes”, still assures the elected official, questioned by news Lyon on site.

There is no no exchanges of fire but the Raid would have used grenades to dislodge the kidnappers holed up in the accommodation. “There was probably no exchange of fire. We would have rather heard explosions,” added the mayor.

A suspect known for drug trafficking

Among the suspects arrested, at least one of them is known for drug casesaccording to a police source.

The motivations of the madmen are not yet known at this time, nor are the precise profiles of those arrested. An investigation is open. The Lyon public prosecutor’s office, requested, has not yet communicated on the case.

The residents of the evacuated building were able to return to their homes early in the afternoon.

“They are two people with a child of three or four years old, a couple, nice, ordinary neighbors, we noticed nothing special. We don’t spend much time with them, they are in their thirties or so, she doesn’t work and he, I don’t know what he does,” says a neighbor in news Lyon.

The residents of the apartment targeted by the facts have lived there for approximately three years.

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