By Divine Sam
A 37-year-old inmate took five staff members hostage at Arles prison in southern France on Friday, using a handmade weapon. The hostage-taker, convicted of armed rape, held four nurses and a prison guard in the infirmary at around 11:15 a.m. local time. Authorities have described him as having significant psychiatric disturbances, and while he is not considered a terrorist, his main demand is a transfer to another prison.
Elite police forces, including the RAID unit, were deployed to handle the situation. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin confirmed that all available resources have been mobilized to manage the standoff. While the situation remains tense, officials have reported that it is currently “calm,” with the inmate continuing to negotiate with authorities. His sentence runs until 2031.