Updated
Eight people are being held captive at a supermarket in the south-western France, a police source has said, adding that the hostage-taker had shot at a police officer.
BFM TV said the hostage-taker has claimed allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group.
A source at the Paris prosecutor’s office said counter-terrorism prosecutors were investigating the incident in the town of Trebes.
The local prefecture confirmed the hostage-taking at the Super U supermarket but did not confirm the claim of allegiance to IS.
Earlier, France’s Interior Ministry had said security officials were carrying out an operation at a supermarket in southern France, but gave no details.
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said the unfolding situation was “very serious”.
The UNSA police union also said on Twitter a police operation was underway after an individual had earlier shot at four officers, injuring one of them, in the Carcassone region.
More to come.
Reuters
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