Paris: the madman of the 12th arrondissement has just freed one of the hostages – franceinfo

The man entrenched with a bladed weapon in a shop in the 12th arrondissement of Paris with two women since the middle of the afternoon has just released one of the hostages, indicates the Prefecture of Police in a tweet. Negotiations are still underway with the BRI concerning the second woman, specifies the police headquarters.

Rue d’Aligre in # Paris12 | The madman has just freed one of the hostages, who is unharmed. Negotiations are still ongoing by the BIS. pic.twitter.com/VH8IOPCtkR

– Police Prefecture (@prefpolice) December 20, 2021

An investigation was opened by the Paris prosecutor’s office for “kidnapping”. The investigations were entrusted to the Service d’Accueil et d’Investigation de Proximité (SAIP).

The man is known for psychological disorders, adds the same source. According to franceinfo information, the terrorist trail has been ruled out at this stage. He told the BRI negotiators, to explain his action, to have been poisoned by his doctor.

The hostage taker asked to speak to the Minister of Justice, Eric Dupond-Moretti and Sylvie Noachovitch, lawyer specializing in family law and criminal law and defender of Omar Raddad learned franceinfo from a source close to the case.

“The Minister of Justice has let the negotiators know that he is at their disposal”, tells franceinfo the Chancellery. According to information from franceinfo, Sylvie Noachovitch, has been put in touch with the hostage taker. The man explained to him that he wanted to be defended by her, as well as by the Minister of Justice and former lawyer Eric Dupond-Moretti.