A man holed up in his home fired a rifle at gendarmes in Blessy (Pas-de-Calais) this Monday, causing three minor injuries, the Hauts-de-France gendarmerie told AFP. “Around fifty gendarmes have been taking turns since shortly after midnight last night” around a house in which a man has taken refuge, said the gendarmerie.
Three gendarmes “were slightly injured by pellet rifle fire”, one in the arcade, one in an arm and another in a thigh, said this source. “Negotiations were set up by the GIGN branch in Reims, then taken care of by the Parisian GIGN,” she added.
The shooter is a former police officer, AFP learned from the mayor of the town, Jean-Marc Furgerot, and from a source close to the case. Aged 38, he “is known to drink a lot” and “has already attempted suicide,” said the councilor. “He lives with his parents, ransacked the house and then retreated to his bedroom upstairs,” he added.