France – Gunman takes hostages in supermarket in suspected terrorist.
Two people have been killed and about a dozen wounded after a gunman took hostages in a supermarket in southern France.
Authorities have confirmed a police operation is taking place following the shooting of a police officer in the town of Trebes, south of Toulouse.
Yves Lefebvre, secretary general of the SGP Police-FO union, said the gunman had earlier fired shots at officers who were out jogging.
One police officer was injured in the shoulder but is not in life-threatening condition, Mr Lefebvre said.
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe says all information suggests the shooting and hostage situation “seems to be a terrorist act”.
The BBC reports a prosecutor said the gunman claims to be in the Islamic State group.
Mayor Eric Menassi also told LCI TV that the man had entered the shop screaming “Allahu Akbar (God is greatest), I’ll kill you all”.
Trèbes Mayor Eric Menassi told local French media that the gunman was now alone in the shop with one police officer, after other hostages were freed.
Two are feared dead, and 12 injured.
A security source told French news agency AFP that most employees and customers at the supermarket “managed to flee”.
The French Interior Ministry said on its Twitter account that police and rescue operations are the priority.
Authorities in the Aude region are warning people to avoid the area around the supermarket.
Anti-terror prosecutors have taken over the investigation and French President Emmanuel Macron has asked Interior Minister Gerard Collomb to go to Trebes.
Authorities in the Aude region are warning people to avoid the area around the supermarket.
More than 240 people have been killed in France in attacks since 2015 by assailants who pledged allegiance to, or were inspired by, Islamic State.
