Two people were shot dead in front of the Montpellier judicial court this Tuesday, authorities announced. The terrorist trail has, however, been ruled out. “We are not dealing with terrorism at all”, but rather a case concerning “a man and a woman who were separated”, a source close to the authorities then told AFP.
A woman and a man died by gunshots on Tuesday in front of the Montpellier judicial court, we learned from the authorities, who ruled out terrorism in favor of femicide followed by suicide. “The final report shows two deaths. The event is over” and the area “secure”, indicated on X (formerly Twitter) the prefecture of Hérault. “We are not dealing with terrorism at all”, but rather a case concerning “a man and a woman who were separated”, a source close to the authorities then told AFP.
An intervention by the police is underway after shots fired in front of the judicial court of #Montpellier#Hérault .
The final report shows 2 deaths.
The event is over.
The area is secured by police officers from DIPN 34. The prefect is on site. A… pic.twitter.com/1pfEikWExz— Prefect of Hérault (@Prefet34) February 20, 2024
“The final report shows 2 deaths. The event is over” and the area “secure”, added the prefecture. “We are not at all dealing with terrorism” but with a case concerning “a man and a woman who were separated,” a source close to the authorities then told AFP.
Husband commits suicide after killing wife
It is “a priori a woman who would have been the victim of gunshots from her husband, who would have committed suicide behind”, explained to AFP a police official in Montpellier, interviewed while the death of the two people was not yet confirmed. “A priori, they had a meeting or a hearing for their divorce. They were each around sixty years old,” another police source told AFP.
The prefect of Hérault, François-Xavier Lauch, visited the site and “a communication will be made at 4 p.m. by the public prosecutor” Fabrice Bélargent, also indicated the prefecture.