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'Dangerous inmate' takes prison chief hostage

The Local France
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'Dangerous inmate' takes prison chief hostage
Photo: AFP

The deputy governor of a high-security prison in northern France has been taken hostage by a "particularly dangerous inmate" who is thought to be armed, authorities said Wednesday.

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The incident started at around 11:00 am (0900 GMT) in the isolation unit of the Vendin-le-Vieil prison, authorities in the Pas-de-Calais region told AFP, adding the hostage-taker was "thought to be armed".

They said security forces had gone to the prison to "carry out negotiations and a possible intervention."

The prison is new and was only finished in September last year.

According to the justice ministry, it houses "inmates who have been given long sentences" and as such boasts "highly sophisticated safety features"

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