Sources say friendly fire killed hostage

PARIS, May 4 (UPI) -- A man whose yacht was being held by Somali pirates was killed accidentally by French commandos during a rescue attempt, Europe 1 reported Monday.

Citing unnamed sources, the French radio broadcaster said Florent Lemacon died when struck by friendly fire April 10 as Special Forces troops stormed his yacht, Tanit, and not from bullets fired by pirates, Radio France Internationale reported.

Europe 1 said information it had obtained indicated Lemacon was caught in the crossfire as he tried to shield his son during the assault, in which two Somali pirates also died.

French prosecutors said last month their probe of the incident could not determine who was responsible for firing the fatal shot, but Defense Minister Herve Morin had never ruled out the possibility of friendly fire, RFI said.