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Paris attacks: Armed gunman takes hostage in Kosher grocery shop in east of city 'You know who I am': Paris gunman murders two and holds five hostage in Kosher grocery shop
(35 minutes later)
Reports have emerged claiming "at least" two people have been killed by an unidentified armed man, believed to be linked to earlier attacks this week, who is holding several hostages in a Kosher grocery in Porte de Vincennes, in the east of Paris. It has been reported that two people have been killed as a gunman suspected of murdering a policewoman on Thursday took several hostages in a Kosher grocery in Porte de Vincennes, in the east of Paris.
The number of hostages held by the gunman remains unclear, with some local French media reporting they were all women and children. There are also unconfirmed reports that the man is refusing to release any of the hostages until the Kouachi brothers were allowed to flee the police siege further north. Five hostages, including children a police source confirmed to The Independent, are being held in Kosher grocery Hyper Cacher off from at Rue Albert Willemetz, a side street off the main Porte de Vincennes boulevard. At least one shop employee had escaped, he said.
A police source told The Independent that there were believed to be five hostages with the gunman inside the supermarket. He could not conform reports that they included children. At least one shop employee had escaped, he said. There are also unconfirmed reports that the gunman, thought to be 32-year-old Amedy Coulibaly, is refusing to release any of the hostages until the Kouachi brothers are allowed to flee the police siege further north.
Police sources told AFP that "at least" two people have been killed by the man in the shop. Witnesses have said that the shooting lasted 20 seconds. Coulibaly's girlfriend Hayat Boumedienne, 26, has also be named by police as a person of interest. It is believed that Ms Boumedienne attended a suspected jihadist training camp in Cantal, a mountainous area of central France.
The man, who it appears may be the same individual who attacked and killed a French policewoman yesterday, is believed to be armed with a Kalashnikov and other weapons. 26-year-old Hayat Boumeddiene and 32-year-old Amedy Coulibaly Others present included Cherif Kouachi, who is one of the suspected gunman in the horrific Charlie Hebdo massacre. Both were questioned by French security at the time but released for lack of evidence.
He is said to have told police officers at Rue Albert Willemetz, a side street off the main Porte de Vincennes boulevard: "You know who I am." Unconfirmed reports that that two people have been killed by the gunman, with witnesses claiming that the shooting lasted 20 seconds.
The man, who it appears may be the same individual who attacked and killed a French policewoman yesterday, is armed with two Kalashnikov rifles.
He is said to have told police officers: "You know who I am."
Police have evacuated everyone from the area, Le Monde reports. Local people said they had heard prolonged gunfire.Police have evacuated everyone from the area, Le Monde reports. Local people said they had heard prolonged gunfire.
Heavily armed police units cordoned off surrounding streets around the incident unfolding at Hyper Cacher (roughly translated as Super Kosher) grocery store, The Independent's John Lichfield reported.Heavily armed police units cordoned off surrounding streets around the incident unfolding at Hyper Cacher (roughly translated as Super Kosher) grocery store, The Independent's John Lichfield reported.
Paris' Mayor Anne Hidalgo wrote on Twitter: “I have learned with horror of the hostage situation that has begun at the Porte de Vincennes, and I am going to the scene immediately.”Paris' Mayor Anne Hidalgo wrote on Twitter: “I have learned with horror of the hostage situation that has begun at the Porte de Vincennes, and I am going to the scene immediately.”
Images have started to emerge of the apparent situation.
Face à #hypercasher à #saintmande pic.twitter.com/iYYr3NxanOFace à #hypercasher à #saintmande pic.twitter.com/iYYr3NxanO
The Paris Prefecture has released images of two people it would like to question in connection with the attack on the Kosher grocery shop. They have been named as Amedy Coulibaly and Hayat Boumeddiene. Boumeddiene is believed to be Coulibaly's girlfriend.
The latest alleged attack develops as the world watches another unfolding hostage situation in an industrial estate in France, around 25 miles north-east of Paris.The latest alleged attack develops as the world watches another unfolding hostage situation in an industrial estate in France, around 25 miles north-east of Paris.
The two suspected gunmen of the Charlie Hebdo massacre earlier this week remain holed up inside a print works as French negotiators work to create a dialogue.   The two suspected gunmen of the Charlie Hebdo massacre earlier this week remain holed up inside a print works as French negotiators work to create a dialogue.