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Eleven-year-old British girl shot dead in her garden in west France British girl, 11, shot dead in family’s garden in western France
(32 minutes later)
The girl’s father and mother were also injured in the attack while her eight-year-old sister escaped unhurt Child’s father and mother were also injured in attack while her eight-year-old sister escaped unhurt
An 11-year-old British girl was shot dead as she played on swings in the garden of her family home in a village in west France on Saturday. An 11-year-old British girl was shot dead as she played on swings in the garden of her family home in a village in western France on Saturday.
The girl’s father and mother were also injured in the attack while the her eight-year-old sister escaped unhurt. The girl’s father and mother were also injured in the attack in the village of Saint-Herbot in Brittany while her eight-year-old sister escaped unhurt.
The Thornon family, who had lived in the village for around five years, were enjoying a barbecue in their garden and the girls were playing on swings at around 10pm on Saturday when a man appeared with a gun and fired several shots. The Thornon family, who have lived in the village for about five years, were enjoying a barbecue in their garden and the girls were playing on swings at about 10pm on Saturday when a man appeared with a gun and fired several shots.
Eleven-year-old Solenne Thornon, was killed immediately while her father, 52-year-old Adrien, was shot in the head. He was taken to hospital where his condition was described as critical. The girls’ mother, Rachel, 49, reported to be a local home help, was shot in the back and the head but was reportedly out of danger, the public prosecutor Carine Halley said. The youngest girl, Céleste, aged eight, escaped to a neighbouring property and raised the alarm. Solenne Thornon, 11, was killed immediately while her father, 52-year-old Adrien, was shot in the head. He was taken to hospital where his condition was described as critical.
Halley said a 71-year-old Dutch man who lived in the same village of Saint-Herbot in the department of Brittany had been taken into custody in connection with the shooting. His wife was also being questioned. The girls’ mother, Rachel, 49, reported to be a local home help, was shot in the back and the head but was reportedly out of danger, the public prosecutor Carine Halley said. The youngest girl, Céleste, aged eight, escaped to a neighbouring property and raised the alarm.
Halley said a 71-year-old Dutch man who lived in the same village had been taken into custody in connection with the shootings. His wife was also being questioned.
French media reported there had been a conflict between the British family and their neighbours over a plot of land.French media reported there had been a conflict between the British family and their neighbours over a plot of land.
An investigation for the murder of a minor and attempted murder has been opened.An investigation for the murder of a minor and attempted murder has been opened.
Halley said initial evidence suggested the suspect “emerged suddenly with a gun and fired several times in the direction of the victims”.Halley said initial evidence suggested the suspect “emerged suddenly with a gun and fired several times in the direction of the victims”.
“The motives for this tragedy are not yet know. It appears there had been a conflict between the two neighbours for several years over a piece of land adjoining the two properties,” Halley told French journalists. “The motives for this tragedy are not yet known. It appears there had been a conflict between the two neighbours for several years over a piece of land adjoining the two properties,” Halley told French journalists.
The killing came just days after a three-year-old British girl was among four children and two adults stabbed in a park in Annecy in eastern France.The killing came just days after a three-year-old British girl was among four children and two adults stabbed in a park in Annecy in eastern France.
Marguerite Bleuzen, the mayor of Plonévez-du-Faou, said the attack appeared to be connected to a “dispute between neighbours” over land and noise that dated back three years.Marguerite Bleuzen, the mayor of Plonévez-du-Faou, said the attack appeared to be connected to a “dispute between neighbours” over land and noise that dated back three years.
“We knew the family well. There is a village fete every year and they always came,” a visibly shocked Bleuzen said.“We knew the family well. There is a village fete every year and they always came,” a visibly shocked Bleuzen said.
“It’s completely incomprehensible to have shot a child. This happened without any warning,” she added. “Nobody can understand how this could have happened.”“It’s completely incomprehensible to have shot a child. This happened without any warning,” she added. “Nobody can understand how this could have happened.”
A neighbour told journalists: “We heard noises and thought they – either the children or the parents – were playing with fireworks. Then the youngest girl came running to the neighbours shouting: “My sister is dead, my sister is dead”. We went and saw the girl was dead and her father and mother were injured.” A neighbour told journalists: “We heard noises and thought they – either the children or the parents – were playing with fireworks. Then the youngest girl came running to the neighbours shouting: ‘My sister is dead, my sister is dead.’
Another neighbour in the village added: “The neighbours had complained about noise but they (the family) didn’t make any more noise than anyone else.” “We went and saw the girl was dead and her father and mother were injured.”
Another village resident said: “The neighbours had complained about noise but they [the family] didn’t make any more noise than anyone else.”