A potentially armed man entered the Jean-Baptiste Dumas high school this Monday, December 9, according to a police source contacted by France Bleu Gard Lozère.
According to information from France Bleu Gard Lozère, a police team urgently went this Monday morning to the Jean-Baptiste Dumas high school in Alès, in Gard, for an intervention responding to a major emergency. Around 8:15 a.m., the intrusion alert system was deployed. According to a police union source who was contacted by journalists from France Bleu Gard Lozère, a man is suspected of having entered the premises of the establishment, “potentially armed”
The media specifies that the PPMS (Special Security Plan) has been triggered, the information has been confirmed by the Gard Prefecture. The implementation of this system leads all high school students to self-isolate. If a hostage-taking is feared, France Bleu indicates that no one would be detained and that there are no injuries or victims.
Latest updates
10:14 – The situation under control, towards an end to the threat?
The regional newspaper Midi Libre now indicates that “the tension seems to be falling and gradually returning to calm.” According to the media, the students even received authorization to return to their classes around 10 a.m.
10:10 – A man “carrying a handgun” in the high school?
According to on-site testimonies collected by Midi Libre journalists, a small individual with a school badge and who “could be carrying a handgun” would have entered the Jean-Baptiste Dumas high school this morning around 8 a.m.
09:59 – The perimeter around the school completely sealed off
The police have completely sealed off the high school, it is impossible to go there at the moment or to approach the establishment. The police forces on site proceed methodically, following the protocol activated following the intrusion alert.
09:53 – A former teacher or CPE suspected
According to information from InfOccitanie, which follows what is happening in the Alès high school very closely, the “potentially armed” man would be a “former teacher or principal education advisor (CPE)”. The individual in question would be around fifty years old, and would therefore know the establishment very well. This information has not yet been confirmed by a police source.