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Customs officer killed, two wounded in southeastern France search mission

Xinhua, November 23, 2015 Adjust font size:

A customs officer was shot dead during a search raid in Saint-Jean-du-Var, in the southeastern town of Toulon, President Francois Hollande's office reported on Monday.

A second customs officer and a police official were injured after a man opened fire on security forces, the Elysee said.

In a statement released from the president's office, Hollande expressed his "deep emotions" and sent condolences to the victims' families.

According to Var Matin, a regional daily newspaper, a man known to intelligence services for drug trafficking fired several shots at customs and police officers while they were trying to arrest him at his house.

The 33-year-old shooter, armed with an M16 assault rifle, has been placed into custody, the report added.

Last Friday, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve unveiled a plan to fight arms trafficking which, according to him, remains the government's "priority". Endit