Police forces outside L’olivier in Issy-les-Moulineaux, 16 November 2024: BFMTV.
On 16 November, an incident took place in Issy-les-Moulineaux, a suburb of Paris, which attracted the attention of law enforcement agencies and the public. At 13:00, an armed man in his father’s restaurant L’Olivier took at least three people hostage. Information about the incident was confirmed by both French firefighters and police sources, TimeUkraineIsrael reports, citing the French edition of BFMTV.
A man locked himself in a restaurant
The offender, armed with a knife, seized the restaurant and locked himself inside, holding several employees hostage. According to the Paris police, the threat to human life was real, so large law enforcement forces, including a special unit of the Search and Rescue Brigade (BRI), were immediately sent to the scene.
The police did not report any customers or the public in the restaurant at the time of the takeover, which likely reduced the risk to bystanders. The attacker remained in the restaurant at the time of the operation, and several dozen law enforcement officers surrounded the perimeter and blocked Ernest Renan Street, where the incident took place.
Psychological problems of the captor
The operation at the scene was complicated by the fact that, according to police sources, the man was showing signs of mental problems and had expressed an intention to commit suicide. The police decided to engage a mediator to resolve the situation peacefully, hoping to avoid an escalation of violence. Also, according to firefighters, special medical personnel were involved in the incident, which may indicate a serious mental health condition of the perpetrator.
Actions taken
The police forces surrounding the restaurant established a security perimeter in the vicinity, blocking the streets and areas around the restaurant. Numerous police cars, helmeted and armed security forces, as well as the emergency service were present. The situation remains under control, although concerns remain over the possible threat to the hostages’ lives and the uncertainty of the attacker’s further actions.
Follow-up and investigation
The man who took the hostages was not known to law enforcement agencies, and there is no information available at this time about his motives or previous crimes. Police continue to negotiate in an attempt to resolve the situation without the use of force. The incident is yet another reminder of the need to combat psychological problems among individuals who may pose a threat to society.
At the time of publication of this article, the situation in Issy-les-Moulineaux remained tense, and the police continued to conduct an operation to free the hostages and apprehend the perpetrator.
