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1st LD Writethru: French military police accidentally fires shots during ceremony, 2 wounded

Xinhua, March 1, 2017 Adjust font size:

A French military police (gendarme) on Tuesday mistakenly shot and wounded two people during President Francois Hollande's speech to inaugurate a new high-speed line in Charente, southwestern France, news channel BFMTV reported.

A gendarme, a sniper one of Hollande's security staff, opened fire accidentally while the Socialist leader addressed a gathering during the inauguration ceremony of the new train linking Tours and Bordeaux.

"I hope that wasn't serious," said Hollande before continuing with his speech at the unveiling of the rail line.

"The wounded were hit at the calf. Their lives are no longer in danger," an official government spokesperson was quoted as saying.

"The prosecutor of the Republic has immediately opened a judicial investigation. The gendarme will have to justify," he added. Endit