An operation in the La Défense business area in western Paris has ended, after reports about a possible armed man in the area proved to be unfounded.
"At this stage, no suspicious individual has been identified by the police on the spot, corroborating the report made to Police Secours 17", the Prefecture of Police announced on Twitter.
#LaDefense | La prospection des lieux se termine. Le dispositif va être levé. A ce stade aucun individu suspect n'a été repéré par les forces de l'ordre sur place venant corroborer le signalement fait à Police Secours 17. pic.twitter.com/ht8Rgcd63c
— Préfecture de Police (@prefpolice) June 30, 2020
Earlier in the day, the police department announced on Twitter that it had launched an operation in the area, as Paris' 'Les Quatre Temps' shopping centre was evacuated.
Other details about the operation were not immediately released.
⚠️ Événement et levée de doute en cours à La Défense. Les services de secours sont sur place. Ne relayez pas de fausses informations. pic.twitter.com/grD3IobkMM
— Préfet des Hauts-de-Seine (@Prefet92) June 30, 2020
According to official Twitter account of the Paris Police Prefecture, the public has been advised to avoid the area and follow the instructions of authorities, as checks were underway.
Les services de Police sont en train de lever le doute sur l'ensemble de la dalle de #LaDefense.@prefpolice conseille aux personnes qui se trouvent sur le secteur de ne pas se déplacer et de se conformer aux consignes des autorités. https://t.co/TvKHNGr0vj
— Préfecture de Police (@prefpolice) June 30, 2020
According to a report by the French radio network RTL, the operation followed a call about an unidentified man in the area carrying “an automatic” weapon. The police called upon the public not to rely on “false information”.
Tweet: ALERT - The 4-stroke shopping center (La Défense) being evacuated, an armed man is near the centre.
🔴 ALERTE - Le centre commercial des 4 temps (La Défense) en cours d'évacuation, un homme armé serait près du centre https://t.co/57KLuBQ2Pk pic.twitter.com/roFQg5Luuq
— Stéphane Larue (@larueofficiel) June 30, 2020
Tweet: We do not know anything. The Prefecture of Police proceeds to a "removal of doubt" following a "single call" signalling the presence of an armed man. Nothing more, nothing less. Confinement in the offices and evacuation of the shopping centre.
On n’en sait rien. La préfecture de police procède à une « levée de doute » suite à un « appel unique » signalant la présence d’un homme armé. Rien de plus, rien de moins. Confinement dans les bureaux et évacuation du centre commercial. #laDefense #laDéfense
— Bigo (@Bigornette) June 30, 2020
The transport authorities have also reportedly closed the nearby train station. According to some reports and eyewitnesses, the people in the area were asked to put their hands up.
Obligé de sortir main en l’air #LaDefense pic.twitter.com/smv8ExUMB0
— lhistorique (@lhistoriquepsg) June 30, 2020
