In a dramatic incident in Angoulême, Charente, a man attempted to set the town hall on fire on Thursday.

The suspect, dressed in military-style clothing, entered the building carrying several cans of gasoline.

Despite being stopped by reception staff, he managed to reach the offices of two assistants and doused them with gasoline.

The police intervened swiftly, shooting and injuring the man to prevent further harm.

Fortunately, no one else was injured in the incident.

The suspect, a French national in his forties, was previously unknown to the police.

Arabic inscriptions were found on the hood of his car parked nearby, adding a layer of mystery to the motive behind the attack.

The area around the town hall remains cordoned off as investigations continue.