Residents who start running, screaming, distraught mothers trying to protect their children, walkers in tears… The Héloïse market was stirred by an impressive crowd movement on Sunday around 1 pm, in Argenteuil.
“Everyone started to run,” testifies a shopkeeper, putting away his last boxes. “No one really knew why. We just knew that something happened over there near the park. In the bazaar located along Boulevard Héloïse, we were still puzzled at the start of the afternoon. “People all wanted to come and take refuge inside the store. But we don't know what happened. "
A fight between two men and the craziest rumors on social networks
According to police sources, it is a dispute between two men that is at the origin of this stampede. The two protagonists would have fought among themselves, without attacking the surrounding inhabitants. But the violence of the scene caused a general leak. Very quickly the rumor swelled, many not hesitating to talk about firearms. On social networks, the discussions are packed, Internet users have even mentioned shootings, some have started talking about shooting by showing a small video of people fleeing and screaming.
In fact, there were no firearms that morning on Boulevard Héloïse. The protagonists of the brawl which allegedly involved at least two to three people reportedly used a sharp iron bar and possibly a knife. Fortunately, a BAC (anti-crime brigade) patrol was nearby and was able to intervene very quickly.
"We had to climb the fence to escape"
The crowd movement therefore did not last long. But he left traces. "I am doing my shopping quietly suddenly a big crowd movement, people shouting in all directions, everyone has abandoned their shopping on the spot, we had to climb the fence on the side of the Seine quays for us escape ”, told a resident on social networks.
Responding quickly to the scene, the firefighters took charge of six people for trauma related to falls or because of anxiety attacks. These four women and two men were evacuated to the Argenteuil hospital center.
The police, for their part, began to investigate. Sunday afternoon, the two main protagonists of the brawl were heard. It is a dispute because of a market place which would be at the origin of the fight.