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Mind-control? [EMAIL PROTECTED] Chirac Gunman Committed to Psychiatric Hospital July 15, 2002 By ALAN RIDING PARIS, July 15 - A neo-Nazi gunmen who is accused of trying to kill President Jacques Chirac during Sunday's Bastille Day parade was committed to a psychiatric hospital today pending the outcome of a judicial investigation to determine whether he was "criminally responsible for his actions" at the moment of the shooting. The man, Maxime Brunerie, 25, an accounting student and part-time chauffeur, was wrestled to the ground by spectators and police after he fired one shot from a .22 calibre hunting rifle at Mr. Chirac. At the time, the French leader was standing in an open jeep and waving at the crowds as he was driven down the Champs Elysees towards a reviewing stand at the Place de la Concorde. The incident - the first attempted assassination of a French president in almost 40 years - prompted calls for an immediate review of Mr. Chirac's security arrangements and drew attention to the activities of little known extreme rightist and neo-Nazi groups that operate in the shadows of French political life. French police quickly identified Mr. Brunerie as a member of several such groups, although they said they believe that he acted alone. However, authorities believe his action was clearly premeditated. He bought the rifle on July 6, rented a car to bring him to Paris on Sunday and posted a message on a far-right English-language Web site urging people to watch the Bastille Day parade. He brought the gun to Paris hidden inside a guitar case. Following his arrest, police said that he admitted wanting to kill Mr. Chirac "to save France" and said that he had intended to commit suicide afterward. This evening, Paris prosecutors said that he had been committed to a special psychiatric hospital outside Paris because of "the danger he poses to himself and others." At the same time, by opening a judicial investigation, they said experts can determine his fitness to face trial for attempted murder. A decision is expected within one month. The French reaction to the attack on Mr. Chirac has been surprisingly calm, with one center-right Paris daily, Le Figaro, not even leading its Monday edition with the story and almost as much media attention was devoted today to the sharp drop in the Paris stock market. Mr. Chirac's own response to news that a shot had been fired at him was also nonchalant: "Ah, bon?" or "Oh, really?" Today, he telephoned four members of the public to thank them for "their intervention, their courage and their sang froid" in tackling Mr. Brunerie. But the incident has raised new questions about the president's security and his ability to continue appearing in front of large crowds. Further, it has prompted fresh demands for tighter gun controls, an issue that first surfaced last March when a demented man opened fire and killed eight municipal councillors during a council meeting in Nanterre, outside Paris. Mr. Brunerie required no permit to buy his .22 rifle; he was meant to register it as the police, but had not done so. http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/15/international/europe/15CND-FRANCE.html?ex=1027772877&ei=1&en=ed5eedd47112d44c HOW TO ADVERTISE --------------------------------- For information on advertising in e-mail newsletters or other creative advertising opportunities with The New York Times on the Web, please contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] or visit our online media kit at http://www.nytimes.com/adinfo For general information about NYTimes.com, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Copyright 2002 The New York Times Company <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
