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Hollande inaugurates Tours-Bordeaux train
Drama as gunshots are heard during French Presidents speech
On Tuesday 28th February French President François Hollande inaugurated the high-speed line Tours-Bordeaux which will open to the public on 2nd July 2017.
This new link will allow passengers to travel between Paris and Bordeaux in just 2 hours. However, the inauguration of the line did not go ahead without a certain amount of drama. A French police sniper accidentally discharged his weapon during President Hollande's speech injuring two people.
The incident occurred as the sniper was changing position on a roof above the inauguration venue. The bullet entered the hospitality tent where drinks were being prepared and it passed through the thigh of a waiter and into the calf of another. Thankfully the injuries were not life threatening.
President Hollande remained professional throughout, interrupting his speech for only a few moments but reports say there was no panic. "I hope it's nothing serious - I think not," Mr Hollande said as he paused his address to ask whether anyone had been hurt.
With a length of 302km, the new LGV crosses 117 municipalities. A top speed of 350km/h will significantly reduce travel times between France's Atlantic coast cities.
Watch this
Coup de feu pendant le discours de François Hollande à Villognon lors de l'inauguration de la LGV Tours Bordeaux pic.twitter.com/c0Sp5dpLty
— F3 Poitou-Charentes (@F3PoitouChtes) February 28, 2017
