- Pictures of Miss Middleton laughing while friend points gun were taken in the centre of Paris over the weekend
- Pippa Middleton is set to be questioned by Paris police after the driver of a car in which she was travelling waved a pistol at a photographer.
- Disturbing images of the incident were captured on Saturday as Prince William’s 27-year-old sister-in-law travelled in an Audi convertible in the centre of the French capital.
- The driver of the car, who has not yet been identified, can clearly be seen pointing what looks like a semi-automatic pistol at a photographer on a moped.
Pippa Middleton is set to be questioned by Paris police after the driver of a car in which she was travelling waved a pistol at a photographer.
Disturbing images of the incident were captured on Saturday as Prince William’s 27-year-old sister-in-law travelled in an Audi convertible in the centre of the French capital.
The driver of the car, who has not yet been identified, can clearly be seen pointing what looks like a semi-automatic pistol at a photographer on a moped.
Disturbing: Pippa Middleton is pictured being driven around Paris in an Audi convertible on Saturday. The driver of the car was later pictured pointing what looks like a semi-automatic pistol at a photographer
Friends: Miss Middleton seems close to the driver as they drive around the French capital
It came just hours after Miss Middleton attended a lavish fancy dress party to celebrate the 29th birthday of Paris fashion entrepreneur Arthur de Soultrait. She left the bash at 6am.
In the top picture, Mr Soultrait can be seen sitting in the back of the Audi wearing a blue baseball cap. The other backseat passenger has yet to be identified.
Both Arthur and his brother Marcy, who was seen with Miss Middleton afterwards, were today said to be ‘mortified’ by what had happened, and were preparing to ‘explain themselves’ to the authorities, said a close friend.
The man who actually waved the gun, meanwhile, was said to be ‘keeping a low profile’ and hoping that ‘everything will calm down’.
If the gun turns out to be real, all those involved in the incident face up to seven years in prison, while even if it is a fake they could be sentenced to two years.
Good time: The night before this picture was taken, Miss Middleton attended Arthur de Soultrait's birthday party. He is pictured in the back of the car wearing a blue baseball cap
Popular: The 27-year-old sister to the Duchess of Cambridge can be seen getting out of the car to meet a male friend
France is currently on heightened security alert after Islamic terrorist Mohammed Merah used a handgun to murder seven people in the south west of the country last month.
Two men were also arrested in the Paris area at the weekend in connection with four murders carried out with a pistol in the nearby Essonne department over the past five months.
Pippa, whose 30-year-old sister is Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, was being driven to the Gare du Nord station to board a Eurostar high speed train to London.
At least one witness has made a formal complaint to Paris police, providing pictures of what happened.
These have been handed over to judicial police who will have to decide whether to alert an examining magistrate.
Cosy: Miss Middleton was pictured with some of France's most eligible bachelors over the weekend. She is arm in arm with Marcy de Soultrait, left, and walking side by side with his brother Arthur, right
Hand in hand: Pippa Middleton and Antoine de Tavernost, the son of French TV CEO Nicolas de Tavernost pictured at a party on Friday nightIf they consider that there is enough evidence for a prosecution, then Pippa and the three men will be among those summoned to give evidence.
A judicial source said: ‘If the evidence points to (Pippa Middleton’s) involvement, she will be prosecuted.
'Anybody involved in the illegal use of a handgun in public is liable to arrest and interrogation.'
A police source said that it was ‘absolutely forbidden’ for anyone to use a gun to ‘warn people off’ in France.
He added: ‘If someone has a licence then for a weapon then it must be kept covered at all times, and away from members of the public.’
In the pink! Miss Middleton goes for a brightly-coloured number as she attends Arthur de Soultrait's birthday party in Paris on Friday night
Covered up: The 27-year-old put a chic biker jacket over her costume as she headed to the party
Party time: Guests at Friday's bash wait outside the venue in their impressive outfits
Many of the illegal guns in France are bought on the black market from Eastern European criminals who drive to France from countries like Russia.
‘People have been able to pick up pistols for as little as 200 euros,’ said the source. ‘Everything is now being done to control this trade.’
Security was stepped up in Paris at the weekend because of the French presidential elections.
Nicolas Sarkozy was speaking at an open air rally in the centre of the city on Sunday, while his Socialist rival Francois Hollande was at another open-air meeting just two miles away.
Pippa arrived in Paris on Friday to attend Arthur de Soultrait’s party at a theatre in the St Germain-des-Pres district of Paris, which had been turned into a nightclub.
Some 300 guests took part in a Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette themed evening, which included three dwarves serving champagne and canapes.
A man dressed as a Cardinal was also present, but he carried a copy of the Kama Sutra sex guide, rather than a Bible.
During the evening, Pippa told a journalist ‘I’m here to enjoy myself,’ while Arthur said: ‘I love decadence.
Nowadays you have to make people dream.
Towards the end of the evening, a fire-eating brunette jumped out of a cake and performed a striptease to a ‘remix’ of God Save the Queen.
Guests at Friday's party wore fancy dress in keeping with the theme of the do, which appeared to be based on fashions from centuries ago.
Though her outfit wasn't quite as overt as some of the other guests at the party, Miss Middleton still appeared to have made an effort with her bright pink costume.
After the bash, she continued celebrating at the exclusive Chez Raspoutine club in the centre of Paris.
For her late-night outfit Miss Middleton threw on a leather jacket over her period costume, with a pair of leggings and gold flats.
Viscount Arthur de Soultrait is an old friend of Miss Middleton's - she stayed with him at his Paris apartment last May after attending the French Open.
The French aristocrat is the man behind Vicomte A, a label that sells brightly coloured preppy clothing and sportswear all around the world.
He is designing the ties for the French Olympic team in 2012, the slogan of his label is 'L'Instinct Chic'.
The firm was started when de Soultrait was left high and dry after a company he'd began working as an intern for in the U.S. went bankrupt after just a week of him being there.
He sold a selection of ties he'd brought with him to the States and managed to raise enough funds to return home, and create his own line of 100% silk ties.
A selection of brightly colored polo shirts followed, attracting the business of affluent young businessmen.
Following her appearance at the Royal Wedding last year, there has been huge interest in Miss Middleton.
As a result she is often followed by photographers and is known to guard her privacy when in the UK.
Fame: There has been a huge interest in Miss Middleton
following her appearance at the Royal Wedding last year
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