“A police sniper has accidentally fired a pistol during a speech by French President Francois Hollande – wounding himself and a waiter,” the sun.co.uk reports. “The bizarre accident happened in Villognon, western France, as the head of state opened the new high-speed train line between Paris and Bordeaux.” Needless to say, there was a bit of post-ND consternation . . .
“A shot rang out as the President was making a speech, and there was clearly a great deal of concern,” said a local police source.
“The President stopped speaking as the shot was investigated, and those injured attended to.
“Neither was badly hurt.”
It’s interesting to note how the press is describing le décharge négligent. Here’s the dailymail.co.uk’s take:
Local press said the soldier wasn’t able to control his gun, and colleagues saw him jumping on the spot before taking refuge in a kitchen where cocktails were being prepared.
What drink to soothe a sniper (gendarme?) with a hole in his foot? Meanwhile, nypost.com described the ND it this way:
The officer – a member of the Gendarmerie – apparently left his gun’s safety off and it fired.
Same as it ever was. Rifles can be so devious. As for the sniper’s future career prospects, tant pis pour il.