Former teacher in France surrenders after holding 22 hostage in school
{{date|March 9, 2006}}

The man who took at least 22 people hostage in Colbert de Torcy High School near {{w|Le Mans}}, [[France]], most of whom were teenagers, surrendered without incident.

Reports indicated 20 of the hostages were students, and two others were adults, possibly school employees. This was higher than initial reports of 18 students and two adults. According to a school receptionist, Bernadette Mercier, the students ranged in age from 17 to 18 years old. The school holds up to 1,500 students. No one was harmed in the incident.

The situation began when the man, aged 33, walked into Colbert de Torcy High School at 1:00 PM GMT, Thursday afternoon and officials say he was suffering from {{w|depression (mood)|depression}}. "We knew him, so we simply let him in," Mercier said. "He seemed totally normal."

The hostage-taker was reported to be armed with a gun, which later turned out to be fake.

The man had lost his job as a {{w|substitute teacher}} at the school two years ago. He was quoted as saying he "wants to talk to the press about his employment problems." He's also asked to speak with [[François Fillon]], the local mayor and former French education minister. Mr. Fillon was the author of an education reform program.

Students were allowed to use their {{w|mobile phone|mobile phones}} to communicate with their families according to Jean Luc Prigent, head of security for the Le Mans region which includes the school. A special hotline was set up, along with a crisis center for parents of the students.

A hostage rescue team called the {{w|GIGN}}, was dispatched to the scene, coming by helicopter from Villacoublay Military Airport just west of [[Paris, France|Paris]].

{{w|Interior Minister}} [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] said he was paying close attention to the situation.

The school is located in northwestern France in {{w|Sablé-sur-Sarthe}} near the city of Le Mans.

== Sources ==

*{{source|url=http://www.metimes.com/articles/normal.php?StoryID=20060309-020837-3355r
|title=Jobless teacher releases hostages in French school, surrenders
|author=Daniel Aronssohn
|pub=Middle East Times
|date=March 9, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4791408.stm
|title=French hostage-taker surrenders
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=March 9, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.bakutoday.net/view.php?d=17708
|title=Jobless teacher releases hostages in French school, surrenders
|author=
|pub=BakuTODAY
|date=March 9, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1705296
|title=Ex-Teacher Holds Hostages at French School
|author=
|pub=ABC News
|date=March 9, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/3712287.html
|title=Ex-Teacher Holds Hostages at French School
|author=
|pub=The Houston Chronicle
|date=March 9, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2006/03/09/1480220-ap.html
|title=Armed man holds up to 22 people, including 20 teenagers, hostage in French school
|author=
|pub=Calgary Sun
|date=March 9, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-03-09T175236Z_01_L09563103_RTRUKOC_0_US-FRANCE-HOSTAGES.xml&archived=False
|title=Jobless teacher takes pupils hostage in French school
|author=
|pub=Reuters
|date=March 9, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1704925
|title=Ex-Teacher Takes Hostages at French School
|author=
|pub=ABC News
|date=March 9, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2006/03/09/hostages-france060309.html
|title=Armed ex-teacher holding 20 hostages at French school
|author=
|pub=CBC News
|date=March 9, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/03/09/france.hostage/index.html
|title=Ex-teacher takes 18 pupils hostage
|author=
|pub=CNN
|date=March 9, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://eitb24.com/portal/eitb24/noticia/en/international-news/latest-news-armed-former-teacher-holds-some-20-hostages-in-french?itemId=D18023&cl=%2Feitb24%2Finternacional&idioma=en
|title=Armed former teacher holds some 20 hostages in French classroom
|author=
|pub=Basque News and Information Channel
|date=March 9, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/09/AR2006030900839.html
|title=Ex-Teacher Takes Hostages at French School
|author=
|pub=The Washington Post
|date=March 9, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4790468.stm
|title=Ex-teacher seizes French students
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=March 9, 2006}}

{{publish}}
{{Archive-unreviewed}}
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:France]]
[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:Nicolas Sarkozy]]
[[Category:François Fillon]]
The man who took at least 22 people hostage in Colbert de Torcy High School near , France, most of whom were teenagers, surrendered without incident.

Reports indicated 20 of the hostages were students, and two others were adults, possibly school employees. This was higher than initial reports of 18 students and two adults. According to a school receptionist, Bernadette Mercier, the students ranged in age from 17 to 18 years old. The school holds up to 1,500 students. No one was harmed in the incident.

The situation began when the man, aged 33, walked into Colbert de Torcy High School at 1:00 PM GMT, Thursday afternoon and officials say he was suffering from depression. "We knew him, so we simply let him in," Mercier said. "He seemed totally normal."

The hostage-taker was reported to be armed with a gun, which later turned out to be fake.

The man had lost his job as a  at the school two years ago. He was quoted as saying he "wants to talk to the press about his employment problems." He's also asked to speak with François Fillon, the local mayor and former French education minister. Mr. Fillon was the author of an education reform program.

Students were allowed to use their mobile phones to communicate with their families according to Jean Luc Prigent, head of security for the Le Mans region which includes the school. A special hotline was set up, along with a crisis center for parents of the students.

A hostage rescue team called the , was dispatched to the scene, coming by helicopter from Villacoublay Military Airport just west of Paris.

 Nicolas Sarkozy said he was paying close attention to the situation.

The school is located in northwestern France in  near the city of Le Mans.
Europe France Crime and law Nicolas Sarkozy François Fillon