An 11-yaer-old from a British family has been shot dead in France, according to reports. Her father has also been seriously injured.
Local reports say that a neighbour shot at the girl on Saturday (June 10) evening in a hamlet near the city of Quimper in Brittany. Her eight-year-old sister was left in 'shock' due to the incident.
The British Foreign Office has said it is providing assistance to the family. A spokesperson said: "We are providing consular assistance to a British family following a shooting in France and are in contact with the local authorities."
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A 71-year-old Dutch national has been arrested, according to local prosecutors. The Times has reported that the state prosecutor in Quimper, Carine Halley, said the child was dead and her father, who is about 40-years-old, was seriously injured when police arrived.
She added the father was taken to hospital in a critical condition and initial evidence suggests “the suspect suddenly emerged armed with a gun and fired several times towards the victims”. He is reported to have then shut himself in his house with his wife.
The Intervention Group of the National Gendarmerie tactical unit was called to the scene and a negotiator persuaded the neighbour and his wife to give themselves up before they were arrested, the prosecutor reportedly said.
A local resident told French media that the younger child raised the alarm, running to neighbours shouting: "My sister is dead, my sister is dead".
The Times said the family-of-four are believed to have lived in their current home for about four or five years and that the two girls were born in France. Marguerite Bleuzen, the mayor of the nearby village of Plonevez-du-Faou, is reported to have said the family were well-known and came to the village fete.
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