An inmate at a French prison holds five employees and takes hostage...No casualties.

In a prison in southern France, an inmate holds five staff members and confronts police, staging a hostage crisis.

French media BFM TV reported that a 37-year-old inmate has been holding four medical staff and a prison guard hostage at the southern Arles prison since around 11:15 a.m. local time (3rd).

The mentally ill inmate began taking hostages during regular checkups at the health office, and no casualties were reported.

The inmate reportedly took hostages because he was dissatisfied with the rejection of his request for a transfer to another prison.

French Attorney General Gerald Darmanin said on his social media that he was responding with all resources while watching the situation in real time.