Manhunt after two French women paramilitary gendarmes killed

DRAGUIGNAN (FRANCE): A massive manhunt was under way early today after an armed man shot dead two women paramilitary gendarmes in a village in southeast France. 

"Two female soldiers from the gendarmerie were killed by firearm" yesterday evening in the village of Collobrieres, local government chief Paul Mourier told AFP. 

He said he had asked for the entire Var department (region) to be cordoned off as the killer was sought. 

Investigators said the gendarmes were intervening in a family dispute when a man grabbed the gun of one of them and killed her, then turned and shot the other woman. 

The suspect, who an investigator said appeared to be drunk, made off with the revolvers. 

The investigator said it was "the first time in the history of the gendarmerie that two female gendarmes were killed" in the same operation.