2 days ago 4

Staff held hostage at Arles prison in France, local media report

Four members of the prison's medical team and one guard were taken hostage by a prisoner on Friday, according to preliminary reports.

Four medical staff members and a prison guard are held hostage at the prison in Arles, in France's department of Bouches-du-Rhône, local media reported.

The five staff members were taken hostage on Friday morning. The perpetrator is believed to be a prisoner armed with a makeshift bladed weapon.

A special police unit was reportedly dispatched to the prison. France's Minister of Justice Gérald Darmanin wrote on social media platform X that all available recourses have been mobilised and that he is monitoring the situation closely.

This is a developing story and our journalists are working on further updates.