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Hostages taken in French town of Roubaix Hostages taken in French town of Roubaix
(35 minutes later)
There is a hostage situation in the northern French town of Roubaix near the Belgian border, but local media cautioned it had “no link with a terrorist attack”. Police were called to a hostage situation in the northern French town of Roubaix near the Belgian border on Tuesday evening, but local media cautioned it had “no link with a terrorist attack”.
Local newspaper La Voix du Nord said there were no injured people.Local newspaper La Voix du Nord said there were no injured people.
Gunmen are in a property on the corner of avenue Gustave Delory and rue Vaillant, Roubaix. Police sources suggested there was no link to the Paris attacks of 13 November and the hostage-taking may be related to a robbery. Gunmen were in a property on the corner of avenue Gustave Delory and rue Vaillant, Roubaix. Police sources suggested there was no link to the Paris attacks of 13 November and the hostage-taking may be related to a robbery.
Residents said they heard gunfire around 7pm on Tuesday evening.Residents said they heard gunfire around 7pm on Tuesday evening.
La Voix du Nord reported automatic gunfire and “several injured”. The area around the flat has been sealed off. La Voix du Nord reported automatic gunfire and “several injured”. The area around the flat was sealed off.
“An operation is under way after hostages were taken. Gunshots were fired and the neighbourhood has been cordoned off,” a police source told Reuters. “A bank director and his family may have been taken as hostages.”“An operation is under way after hostages were taken. Gunshots were fired and the neighbourhood has been cordoned off,” a police source told Reuters. “A bank director and his family may have been taken as hostages.”
Sources say the gunmen - two or three of them - are holding hostage a bank manager who works for Crédit Municipal and his wife and possibly, but not confirmed, children at the family home in Roubaix. Sources say the gunmen - two or three of them - were holding hostage a bank manager who works for Crédit Municipal and his wife and possibly, but not confirmed, children at the family home in Roubaix.
French media reported that the gunmen approached the bank manager near his home and ordered him to open the safe at around 6.50pm on Tuesday.French media reported that the gunmen approached the bank manager near his home and ordered him to open the safe at around 6.50pm on Tuesday.
Jean-François Cordet, the local prefect, arrived around 21.15 as the siege was continuing.Jean-François Cordet, the local prefect, arrived around 21.15 as the siege was continuing.
This is a breaking news story, please check back for further updates At 10pm, police announced that the hostage situation was over. Two hostages had escaped earlier, and the last two were taken away by the emergency services.