Man shot by police after trying to start fire at Angoulême mairie
Witnesses say the 46-year-old poured petrol into one of the offices and onto two female workers
A fire broke out during the incident, but does not seem to have caused serious damage
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A man has been shot and seriously injured by police after he used a jerry can to pour petrol throughout Angoulême mairie and attempted to set it alight.
Eyewitnesses say the individual entered the town hall building just after midday and went directly towards the office of the mayor’s assistants.
There he began to pour petrol around the room and onto two female workers, witnesses added.
Police officers were called and shot the attacker, who is now said to be in a critical condition in hospital.
A fire broke during the incident but it is not clear whether this was started deliberately by the man before being shot, or by accident after he spilled the petrol.
It is not thought that serious damage was done to the building.
The town hall was evacuated. Local media sources report that nobody – except the attacker – has been injured.
Caretaker Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin confirmed the attack, and safety of workers in the building, in a post on X.
The surrounding area remains closed off to the public amid fears that a bomb may have been planted nearby.
Power has been cut in part of the town centre close to the mairie, and a bomb disposal squad is in place.
The attacker left his car parked outside the mairie and it is unknown if he left anything else inside either his vehicle or the building.
Police have also searched the attacker’s home.
The motives of the attack are not clear but in an interview posted on X, the town’s mayor Xavier Bonnefont said the 46-year-old was previously unknown to the police.
You can watch the interview in full below.
