3 French police officers killed, 1 wounded in domestic violence incident

The suspect was later found dead.

By REUTERS

DECEMBER 23, 2020 08:48

Updated: DECEMBER 23, 2020 10:48

Police work near the scene where French soliders were hit and injured by a vehicle in the western Paris suburb of Levallois-Perret, France (photo credit: REUTERS/BENOIT TESSIER) — Police work near the scene where French soliders were hit and injured by a vehicle in the western Paris suburb of Levallois-Perret, France

(photo credit: REUTERS/BENOIT TESSIER)

Three French police officers were shot dead and a fourth wounded when a man opened fire as they arrived at a house in a remote village in France's central Puy-de-Dome region in response to a call about domestic violence against a woman, police said on Wednesday.

The suspect was later found dead, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Twitter, without providing further details.

The mayor of the nearby French town of Saint-Just said a police rapid-reaction unit was on the scene following the fatal shooting in the village, according to the CNews television station.

Mayor Francois Chautard said officers from the gendarme police force were called to a report of domestic violence in the village in central France, some 180 km (114 miles) west of the city of Lyon.

When police arrived a man starting shooting at them and then set fire to the house, according to French broadcaster BFMTV.

The woman, who was the reported victim of domestic violence, sought refuge on the roof of the house and was rescued safely by police. The house was destroyed by the fire, BFMTV reported.

A representative of the regional prefect's office told Reuters: "This is a gendarme operation which is related to domestic violence, which has seen some developments that are still in progress."

France's interior ministry said the three gendarme officers killed in the incident were aged 21, 37, and 45.

Darmanin paid tribute to the officers who were killed.

"The nation bows down before their courage and commitment," he wrote on Twitter.

President Emmanuel Macron also expressed solidarity with France's police force.

"They are our heroes," Macron said on Twitter.

Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.