2 injured when officer accidentally fires weapon during French president’s speech

PARIS — A sniper mistakenly fired his weapon during a Thursday speech by President François Hollande in southwestern France, slightly injuring two people, according to a regional official.

Video footage of the speech — on the opening of a high-speed train between Tours and Bordeaux — shows Hollande stopping mid-sentence at the sound of gunfire about 17 minutes into his remarks.

“I hope it’s nothing serious,” Hollande said, turning to look in the direction of the commotion.

“I don’t think so,” he concluded a few seconds later, launching back into his speech.

According to the Figaro newspaper, whose reporter was on site, the sniper was stationed under a marquis near where guests were to gather for a cocktail reception. The sniper apparently belonged to the PSPG, an elite protection platoon, and had fired accidentally when he changed his position, the Figaro reported.

The prefect of the Charente region, where Hollande was speaking, told reporters gathered for the speech in the town of Villognon that the victims’ injuries were not life-threatening.

“Their days are not numbered,” Pierre N’Gahane said of the victims, who were not identified. “We were able to talk with them immediately afterwards.”

N’Gahane said the local prosecutor’s office would launch an investigation.

Hollande’s speech comes toward the end of a five-year presidency rocked by terrorist attacks. During his tenure, 230 people have been killed in attacks in Paris, Nice and elsewhere in the country.

In December, Hollande, a Socialist whose approval ratings had fallen to a historic low, made the highly unusual announcement that he would not seek reelection.