Fatal police shooting

The shoot-out occurred at around 3.30pm on Wednesday 18th January near the Diligence roundabout in Le Pradet. According to local media, the injured officer and two colleagues had been called to the home of the victim, Georges Arnaud, after receiving complaints from neighbours. 

Residents reported that the elderly man was threatening them with a shotgun and accusing them of stealing his plant pots.

When the officers arrived at the scene, the man allegedly drove over to their car, got out of his vehicle and shot at the driver of the police car. While the victim reloaded his shot-gun, the officer returned fire in "self-defence," says the police union. Arnaud died at the scene and the injured officer was taken to hospital. 

Yesterday, Thierry Uguet, Head of the Var CGT Police, told local media that the policeman in his forties remains in hospital after receiving bullet wounds to his arm, foot and shoulder. 

The union said, "we support our colleague and hope that investigators do the same." 

Sarah Lloyd