French workers threaten to blow up factory
Redundant workers involved in a siege at a French factory are threatening to blow it up.
They have reportedly placed explosives around the premises and demanded pledges of cash from the government.
The 100 former staff at the Moulinex plant in Cormelles-le-Royal have set a deadline of the end of the day, after about 30 workers set fire to part of the building yesterday.
They are demanding about £7,500 for each worker.
Moulinex was declared bankrupt some weeks ago, and part of the company was bought by competitor Seb.
Former Moulinex workers, who have been told Seb will close four sites including Cormelles-le-Royal and only keep 1,855 of the 5,590-strong workforce, are now demanding government cash to help their situation.
The French government has already released about £88.5m to pay social expenses for the unemployed, and to reindustrialise the Moulinex site.
Police say workers at the Cormelles-le-Royal factory in Normandy had taken up positions on the roof, armed with gas canisters and petrol cans. They say they're taking seriously the threat to blow it up.
