May 15, 2013: Jury member Christoph Waltz poses for photographers during a photo call for the jury at the 66th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France. (AP)
CANNES, France – Christoph Waltz was rushed off the stage as chaos took over a live French television show when two loud bangs rang out in the audience.
The two-time Oscar winner was being interviewed on "The Grand Journal" talk show on an outdoor site constructed for the Cannes Film Festival when what sounded like two gun shots erupted. The actor and others scrambled for cover as a voice said "there’s someone shooting."
Initial reports said a man fired off two blanks and yelled that he had a grenade.
When the show resumed minutes later, host Michel Denisot said the noise had been caused by blanks.
There were no reports of injuries.
Photographs showed a man being wrestled to the ground by police near the stage beside Cannes' seafront promenade, the Croisette.
Police first said the sounds were merely from firecrackers.
Local newspaper Nice-Matin reported that a man was detained by police with a starter's pistol, a pocket knife and a plastic grenade.
The melee was the second major crime news of the day in Cannes, where the 66th edition of its film festival is in full swing. Early Friday morning a thief made off with more than $1 million in jewelry that jewelry maker Chopard had brought in to lend to celebrities for their red carpet outfits.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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