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| France hostages: Armed men attack Primark shop near Paris | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Gunmen are holding several hostages after what French police sources say was a robbery attempt on a Primark shop north of Paris. | Gunmen are holding several hostages after what French police sources say was a robbery attempt on a Primark shop north of Paris. |
| "Some 10 people may be held inside" a shopping centre in Villeneuve-la-Garenne, police sources said. | "Some 10 people may be held inside" a shopping centre in Villeneuve-la-Garenne, police sources said. |
| Special forces were sent to the scene, police said. | |
| A short time later there were reports that 18 people had been freed from the Qwartz shopping centre but it was unclear how many hostages remained. | |
| Police stopped all traffic in the area and all other shops nearby have also closed. | |
| "At around 06:30 (04:30 GMT), two or three armed criminals went into the Primark store for what we think was initially an attempt at armed robbery," a police source, who wished to remain anonymous, is quoted as saying by AFP news agency. | "At around 06:30 (04:30 GMT), two or three armed criminals went into the Primark store for what we think was initially an attempt at armed robbery," a police source, who wished to remain anonymous, is quoted as saying by AFP news agency. |
| Another police source said an employee first alerted her boyfriend of the hold-up at around 07:00 when she sent him a text message saying they had been taken hostage by two armed men. | |
| Le Parisien website said three men were involved, adding that one may have been recognised as a Primark employee. | |
| Police have told the BBC they are currently ruling out anything more sinister such as a terrorist attack. |