French marksman missing in US
2002-10-21 16:41
Paris - France has alerted Interpol about a French army deserter - known
as an excellent marksman - who is missing in North America, feeding
speculation of a link to the investigation into the Washington-area
sniper investigation.
The 25-year-old second lieutenant did not return to class in
September at the elite military school, Saint-Cyr Coetquidan in
Brittany, in eastern France, after going on vacation in August,
officials said.
Interpol was notified of the disappearance of the officer, a
normal procedure, and a judicial investigation was opened, which is
also normal, said defence ministry spokesperson Jean-Francois Bureau.
Speculation
Bureau acknowledged there was some speculation of a connection
with the sniper investigation, but he said that was just
hypothetical at this point.
"We have no certitude of a link," he said in a telephone
interview. However, he said, "This soldier has a very, very good
reputation as a marksman."
And since the September 11 terror attacks on the United States, "these are things we follow very closely," he added.
Interpol, the international police agency based in the French
city of Lyon, said it refused to comment on active cases.
Deserter
The deserter, not identified by name, was given permission for
an August trip to the United States and Canada, said Bureau. Police
sources said he had planned a trip to Chicago.
RTL radio reported the deserter was of Yugoslav origin, but
Bureau could not confirm that, saying that he had to be a French
citizens to attend the military school.
The missing officer never showed up for school in September. The
gendarmerie, a force under the defence ministry, sent a note last
week to the interior ministry. Interpol was then contacted, said
Bureau.
Bureau cast doubt on reports in the French media that students
at Saint-Cyr alleged they recognised their comrade in an unofficial
police composite drawing of the sniper reportedly shown on French
television. - Sapa-AP
- SAPA