Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Watch President Hollande's reaction as he hears the shot

A French police sniper has accidentally shot and injured two people during a speech by President Francois Hollande in western France.

The shot was fired as the officer moved position on a roof about 100m (328ft) from a tent where Mr Hollande was speaking in the town of Villognon.

The bullet went through the canvas of the tent, where drinks were being made. It passed through a waiter's thigh and lodged in another person's calf.

The injuries were not life-threatening.

Mr Hollande was inaugurating a new stretch of railway when a gunshot was heard. He interrupted his speech for a few moments but reports say there was no panic.

"I hope it's nothing serious - I think not," Mr Hollande said as he paused his address to ask whether anyone had been hurt.

The president later visited the injured - the head waiter of a local hotel and an employee of a railway maintenance company.

One local report said the safety catch of the sniper's weapon had been unlocked, allowing the gun to be discharged accidentally.

Local government chief Pierre N'Gahane said a judicial investigation had been launched.

Asked if the officer had fired accidentally, he was quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying: "Yes, without doubt."

The marksman is based with a special protection unit in nearby Poitiers, officials said.</s>The top official of France's Charente region says a police sharpshooter has accidentally fired his weapon during a speech by President Francois Hollande and two people were slightly injured.

Pierre N'Gahane said the incident occurred Tuesday while Hollande was inaugurating a new fast train line in the western town of Villognon.</s>A police sharpshooter accidentally fired his weapon during a speech by French President Francois Hollande and two people were slightly injured.

Pierre N’Gahane, regional prefect of Charente region, said the incident occurred while Mr Hollande was inaugurating a new fast train line in the western town of Villognon.

Speaking to journalists near the scene of the incident, Mr N’Gahane said the gendarme, or military police officer, was located on a high spot, “his regular position,” when his weapon was fired.

Asked if the sharpshooter fired accidentally, Mr N’Gahane responded: “Yes, without doubt.”

He said two people were slightly wounded, each in one leg. “We were able to discuss with them immediately afterward,” he said.

On a video of the speech posted on the Twitter account of the Elysee Palace, Mr Hollande is seen speaking on a platform in front of an audience when suddenly a sound resembling a shot is heard.

Mr Hollande briefly stopped speaking, looked in the direction of the noise and quietly said he hoped it was nothing serious, then that he did not think it was, and resumed his speech.

The incident occurred shortly before the end of the 20-minute speech. His speech was interrupted for less than 20 seconds.

Mr N’Gahane said a judicial probe has been launched under the supervision of the local prosecutor. An administrative inquiry will also be carried out and the gendarme will have to give an account of what happened, he said.</s>PARIS — A sniper mistakenly fired his weapon during a Tuesday speech by President François Hollande in southwestern France, slightly injuring two people, according to a regional official.

Video footage of the speech shows Hollande stopping midsentence at the sound of gunfire about 17 minutes into his remarks.

“I hope it’s nothing serious,” Hollande said, turning to look in the direction of the commotion. “I don’t think so,” he concluded a few seconds later, launching back into his speech.

According to the Figaro newspaper, the sniper was stationed under a marquis near where guests were to gather for a cocktail reception. The sniper apparently belonged to the PSPG, an elite protection platoon, and had fired accidentally when he changed his position, the Figaro reported.</s>​Two people were slightly hurt when a police sharpshooter accidentally fired his weapon during a speech by French President Francois Hollande, according to the top official of France's Charente region.

Pierre N'Gahane said the incident occurred while Hollande during the inauguration of a new fast train line in the western town of Villognon.

The regional prefect, speaking to journalists near the scene of the incident, said the gendarme, or military police officer, was located on a high spot, "his regular position," when his weapon was fired.

Asked if the sharpshooter fired accidentally, N'Gahane responded: "Yes, without doubt."

He said two people were slightly wounded.

"We were able to discuss with them immediately afterward," N'Gahane said.

The bullet struck a waiter in the leg and a railway employee in the foot, according to the Sud-Ouest newspaper.

On a video of Hollande's speech that was posted on the Twitter account of the Elysee Palace, Hollande is seen speaking on a platform in front of an audience when suddenly a sound resembling a shot is heard.

He paused to ask if anyone had been hurt.

"I hope it's nothing serious. I think not," he told the crowd, before resuming his speech.</s>At least two people have been injured after a gun was accidentally fired during a speech by president François Hollande, French media have reported.

Hollande was speaking in the town of Villognon to mark the opening of a high-speed railway line between Paris and Bordeaux when a police marksman accidentally opened fire, the Sud-Ouest newspaper reported.

The paper quoted local officials as saying the member of the elite gendarmerie protection squad was positioned on a rooftop about 100 metres from the marquee where the ceremony was taking place.

The safety catch on the officer’s rifle was reportedly off and the shot was fired when he tripped while adjusting his position. The bullet pierced the marquee roof, hitting a waiter in the leg and a railway employee in the foot.

Hollande, who is not standing for a second term in the presidential elections next month, had just started speaking to the guests at a cocktail party to celebrate the opening of the line when the shot went off, the paper reported.

An inquiry had been opened into the incident, the officials said.

The injuries were not said to be serious and Hollande was among the guests who rushed to their aid, according to Le Parisien.</s>PARIS—A police sharpshooter accidentally fired his weapon during a speech by French President François Hollande and two people were slightly injured, the top official of France’s Charente region said Tuesday.

Pierre N’Gahane said the incident occurred while Hollande was inaugurating a new fast train line in the western town of Villognon.

The regional prefect, speaking to journalists near the scene of the incident, said the gendarme, or military police officer, was located on a high spot, “his regular position,” when his weapon was fired.

Asked if the sharpshooter fired accidentally, N’Gahane responded: “Yes, without doubt.”

He said two people were slightly wounded, each in one leg. “We were able to discuss with them immediately afterward,” he said.</s>PARIS — The top official of France’s Charente region says a police sharpshooter has accidentally fired his weapon during a speech by President Francois Hollande and two people were slightly injured.

Pierre N’Gahane said the incident occurred Tuesday while Hollande was inaugurating a new fast train line in the western town of Villognon.

A video posted to Twitter appears to show the moment that the shot rang out during Hollande’s speech.

Officials say those injured — the head waiter of a local hotel and an employee of a railway maintenance company — are not in danger, according to the BBC.</s>French police sniper shoots two in error at Hollande speech</s>PARIS (AP) — The top official of France’s Charente region says a police sharpshooter has accidentally fired his weapon during a speech by President Francois Hollande and two people were slightly injured.

Pierre N’Gahane said the incident occurred Tuesday while Hollande was inaugurating a new fast train line in the western town of Villognon.

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A police sniper accidentally fires his weapon while changing position and injures two people during a speech by French President François Hollande in Villognon.