An inmate armed with a handmade shank took five staff members hostage at Arles prison in southern France on Friday, authorities confirmed. The incident occurred in the prison infirmary around 11:15 am (1015 GMT) and involved four nurses and one prison guard.
The 37-year-old hostage-taker, serving a sentence for armed rape, reportedly suffers from significant psychiatric disturbances. Officials emphasized that he does not have the profile of a terrorist, according to sources familiar with the case.
Demands and Response
The prisoner is demanding a transfer to another facility, a source revealed, adding that the situation remains calm.
Elite police response forces, including the RAID unit, have been deployed to the scene. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin stated on X (formerly Twitter) that all resources have been mobilized to resolve the crisis and that he is monitoring developments in real time.
Background
The inmate is expected to remain in custody until 2031. While the motive for his actions is being investigated, authorities are prioritizing the safety of the hostages and aiming for a peaceful resolution.
