Multiple Deaths In Unfolding Hostage Incident In France
March 23, 2018
Multiple Deaths In Unfolding Hostage Incident In France
Armed police have reportedly shot and killed a hostage-taker after storming a supermarket in the southern France town of Trèbes. This is a developing situation and we’ll be updating this story with the latest accurate information as we get it.
According to AFP, at least three people are dead and multiple people were wounded in the supermarket attack in the southern town, which is 440km west of Cannes.
Authorities are treating this as a possible terror attack and armed police set a perimeter around the supermarket where the gunman was holed up. A number of shoppers and staff have been evacuated from the site, according to local officials. Reports say the gunman pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group.
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“The situation is serious,” French Prime Minister Édouard has said. “All the information we have suggests this is a terrorist act.” Shortly before the supermarket incident, a car is reported to have driven past a group of policemen in Carcassonne, 8km west of Trèbes, and a gunman opened fire. One police officer was injured. Police are investigating whether the two incidents are related.
The attack echoes a number of terror assaults in France in recent years, including the November 2015 Bataclan murders which left 130 dead and the slaying of the Charlie Hebdo newsroom earlier that year. In July 2016, a man drove a truck through crowds of people in Nice, killing 86 people.
Today’s attack is potentially the first major terror incident to befall the country under the leadership of new premier Emanuel Macron.
More to come…