Man holds hostages in French supermarket, claims allegiance to Islamic State: BFM TV

PARIS: A man holding hostages in a supermarket in southwestern France has claimed allegiance to Islamic State, BFM TV said.

Europe 1 radio also said an individual was holding hostages in the supermarket.

Earlier, France’s Interior Ministry had said security officials were carrying out an operation at a supermarket in town of Trebes in southern France, but gave no details.

UPDATE:1

PARIS: At least one person has been killed during a hostage situation in a southern France supermarket - Depeche du Midi newspaper reported on Friday.

UPDATE: 2

Two victims in French supermarket hostage-taking: mayor

PARIS: There are two victims in a hostage taking at a supermarket in Trebes southern France, the mayor of the town said on Friday as La Depeche du midi newspaper reported one person was dead.

The condition of the two victims was not immediately known.

Mayor Eric Ménassi told BFM TV that the hostage taker was now alone with one police officer in the supermarket and all other hostages had been freed.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe described the situation, which investigators are treating as terrorism, as “very serious” and Interior Minister Gerard Collomb is heading to the site, his ministry said.