The very chic Passy district, in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, saw its usual calm disrupted on Wednesday afternoon.
The area was cordoned off for several hours by heavy security.
In question, an alert reporting a potentially armed man.
Businesses and a high school were confined but the allegedly armed individual was not found.
Here is what we know the day after this episode.
What happened ?
Shortly before 2 p.m., the police received a call from a man assuring them that he had seen two men, one of whom appeared to be hiding a long weapon under his coat.
The whistleblower was then found on Avenue Kléber.
#passy curly.
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— gwenael piaser (@PiaserGwenael) March 6, 2024
According to a source close to the case, this witness claims to have spoken with the man in possession of a "long gun", who assured him that his weapon was "not loaded" and that he had " an authorization to hold it.”
According to the same witness, the two suspects then got into a taxi.
What did the research reveal?
This report allowed the numerous police forces put on alert to quickly spot the taxi vehicle.
According to our information, the driver indicated that he had dropped these two men off on Boulevard Delessert (16th century), confirming that one of the two appeared to have a weapon.
A very large area was then cordoned off by the police.
The drop-off address given by the taxi driver is also close to the place of residence of the former Prime Minister, Édouard Balladur.
“This added to the particular vigilance,” confirms Jérémy Redler, the mayor (LR) of the 16th arrondissement who followed the evolution of the situation live.
“We had to bring the few customers from the terrace inside for the end of the service.
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An employee of the hotel-restaurant Le Franklin
Several businesses have been asked to close their terraces, such as the hotel-restaurant Le Franklin.
“The system was only getting heavier and the security perimeter was growing.
We had to bring the few customers from the terrace inside for the end of the service,” whispers an employee of the establishment.
Saint-Louis de Gonzague high school was also confined for more than an hour.
Finally, the column of specialized law enforcement teams, particularly armed and protected according to a witness who thought "of an entrenched man", will not find the suspects.
🟣 Closed neighborhood, confined high school students... What happened in the 16th arrondissement of #Paris?
After the report of a heavily armed man near the #Passy station in Paris, a large police force was deployed for an hour, and a high school was confined.
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— ⚔️Gaulois (@Gaulois_00) March 6, 2024
Where is the investigation?
“The police carried out checks.
I have received several messages from worried residents,” confirms the mayor.
An investigation was opened for “possession and transport of a category B weapon and entrusted to the 16th arrondissement police station”, adds the Paris prosecutor's office, ensuring that investigations are underway.
According to our information, the taxi driver was interviewed at the police station.
Before the device was lifted around 4 p.m.