Cannes: Man fires pistol blanks into live TV crowd

A MAN armed with a starter pistol fired blanks into a crowd at the Cannes Film Festival, sending Oscar-winner Christoph Waltz ducking for cover.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th May 2013, 10:08 BST
Daniel Auteuil (centre) and Christoph Waltz (right) are evacuated from the stage. Picture: AFP/GettyDaniel Auteuil (centre) and Christoph Waltz (right) are evacuated from the stage. Picture: AFP/Getty
Daniel Auteuil (centre) and Christoph Waltz (right) are evacuated from the stage. Picture: AFP/Getty

Waltz, star of Django Unchained and a member of the festival’s jury, was giving an interview on live TV when the shots were fired.

Waltz and fellow actor Daniel Auteuil were seen scrambling from their seats on the programme’s outdoor set on the famous Croisette, while a voice could be heard shouting “someone’s shooting”.

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The programme went off air for several minutes, but on its return host Michel Denisot confirmed that the shots fired were blanks and that there were no injuries.

A man was detained by police with a plastic grenade and pocket knife, along with the starter’s pistol.

The dramatic event came a day after reports emerged of a million-dollar jewel theft in the French town. Jewellery intended for red carpet events was stolen from a hotel room rented by a luxury jeweller.

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