On January 3, 2025, a 37-year-old inmate, incarcerated for armed sexual assault and known to have psychiatric issues, took five prison staff members hostage at the central prison in Arles, located in the Bouches-du-Rhône department of southern France

The hostages included four medical personnel and a prison guard. The incident began around 11:15 AM in the prison’s infirmary, where the inmate, armed with improvised weapons, held the hostages for several hours. He expressed a desire to be transferred to another detention facility.

Authorities deployed significant resources to manage the situation, including teams from the RAID (Research, Assistance, Intervention, and Deterrence) unit and specialized negotiators. After approximately five hours of negotiations, the inmate surrendered without any injuries, and the hostages were released. French Minister of Justice Gérald Darmanin commended the intervention of the prison administration teams and the RAID officers, expressing gratitude for their effectiveness.

The central prison in Arles, established in 1991, is a high-security facility designed for inmates sentenced to more than 10 years of imprisonment or those presenting significant security risks.