Gunman Seizes French Court; 12 Held Hostage

A gunman claiming to be a Palestinian guerrilla burst into a courtroom Thursday, gave guns and grenades to two defendants on trial there and took at least 33 hostages, including the judge and jury.

They later freed 21 people but demanded a bus to take their remaining captives away.

A freed journalist quoted the gunman, whom police identified as a convicted armed robber, as saying that he wanted to “give the French state a slap in the face.”

Jurors Reported Ill

The gunman and the two armed defendants had made no demands by Thursday night beyond asking for the bus in which to escape.

Six hours after the takeover began, the trio freed unharmed 11 law students, two journalists and six police guards, following negotiations with authorities. Later, they released two jurors, both of whom were said to be ill. Police said one suffered from apparent heart trouble and the other is diabetic.

No injuries were reported.

Negotiations continued for the freedom of the other hostages, including the judge, nine jurors and other court officials. A television cameraman, a member of a crew sent into the courtroom late Thursday at the men’s request, said there were at least 12 hostages left, whom the gunmen intended to take with them. The cameraman said they had promised that the hostages would not be hurt.

A high-ranking police official from Paris and a police commissioner from this town, about 300 miles southwest of Paris, were negotiating with the gunmen.

The takeover began when a man identified as Abdel Karim Khalki disarmed five court guards at gunpoint and distributed pistols and hand grenades to two of four defendants being tried for armed robbery and passing forged checks.

The three men then took up positions around the courtroom, fired warning shots and threatening bloodshed if police intervened. A police commando squad took up positions around the courthouse.

The apparent leader of the three, defendant Georges Courtois, 34, allowed Bernard Dussel, a television journalist, inside the courtroom long enough to film the scene for national news programs.

Courtois was shown striding about the courtroom, smoking a cigar and lecturing Judge Dominique Bailhache, a defense lawyer, a prosecutor and the jurors, all of whom sat in shocked silence.

The second armed defendant, Patrick Thiollet, held a pistol and a hand grenade and stood menacingly behind the grim-faced judge.

Armed Robbery Sentence

The gunman who had burst into the courtroom--whom Courtois also identified as Khalki--was shown standing behind the jury. News reports said that Khalki was released from prison Nov. 29 after serving two years of a five-year term for armed robbery.

“If we must kill two, three or four people or throw the grenades, I want you to know that it will be the fault of the police,” Courtois said.

“The slightest sign of intervention by the police will be followed within the next minute by immediate repercussions,” Courtois said, later firing a gunshot into the ceiling.

It was not immediately clear if the other two defendants on trial--Yannick Brevet, 31, and Christelle Dislar, 27--were participating in the takeover or were themselves hostages.

Dussel, the TV journalist, said that Khalki claimed to be a member of the Palestinian terrorist group led by Abu Nidal.

“He told us that he wanted to give the French government a slap in the face and held up photos of the war in Lebanon. He said that in two months, it will be over for France in Lebanon,” Dussel said.

Little French Presence

At present, the only French presence in Lebanon, beyond a heavily guarded embassy in West Beirut, is 925 members of the U.N. peacekeeping force in the south of that country.

Nidal’s Revolutionary Council of Fatah has claimed responsibility for a number of terrorist acts carried out in Europe and Middle East in recent years, after Nidal broke with Palestine Liberation Organization chief Yasser Arafat. Nidal himself was reported last year to have died of a heart attack but was subsequently reported still alive.

Courtois identified Khalki as “an extremist Muslim that we met in prison, Thiollet and me. He told us about his struggle and what he planned to do when he got out of prison. Rather than waste all my time in prison, I decided to ally myself with his cause.”

The situation appeared calm as the mustachioed, slender Courtois made his rambling speech before the camera. A law student who escaped from the courthouse earlier said that three shots were fired. A fourth shot was heard later.

The escaped student, identified as only as Nathalie, 21, said that Courtois announced in the courtroom that Khalki was a Muslim and demanded to know “if there were any Jews among the jurors.” He was told there were none, the witness said.

“Courtois, who appeared to be the chief, seemed determined but is very calm,” she said. “He made us sit down and distributed chewing gum to us.”

On the national television news, Courtois was seen telling the jurors, “You have been judging me, now it is our turn to judge you.”

During Wednesday’s opening session of the trial, Courtois had told the court: “You are finding me guilty once again. But understand that prison for me is finished.”