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France
20 children taken hostage at French kindergarten released
Reports that a man armed with two swords has released the children and teacher he took hostage at a French school this morning.
Updated at 12:20
AN ARMED MAN WHO took a group of children hostage at a nursery in Besancon, eastern France this morning has released all of the children unharmed.
The BBC reports that the young man, believed to be 17 years old and armed with two swords, has been arrested.
Le Monde earlier reported that he had released 14 of the children, but continued to hold their teacher and several other children. A police negotiator was brought in to communicate with him.
The mayor of Besancon, Jean-Louis Fousseret told France Info radio that the armed man’s motive in the incident was unclear. He is understood to have suffered from depression and psychological problems, Reuters reports.
Police cordoned off the area around the Charles Fourier kindergarten after the man began his siege before 9am today, and all other classes at the school were evacuated.
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