Nimes: Suspect arrested at railway station evacuated following reports of 'armed man'

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice

Nimes railway station in southern France has been evacuated by police following reports of at least one armed man.

Initial media reports said there may have been as many as three armed gunmen.

However officials quickly confirmed that one man had been arrested at the train station, and no shots had been fired.

Officers also said the man’s weapon might have been fake.

A spokesperson for the local government in Gard confirmed there was no shooting at the railway station and the operation was triggered by a report of a suspicious person.

They added: “Avoid the area around Nimes station to allow the removal of any doubt.”

The security scare comes the evening after the first day of the Spanish cycle race the Vuelta a Espana, which was held in the French city.