Hostages have been taken in a supermarket in France, and terrorism is suspected
Breaking news out of France. On the morning of Friday, March 23rd, a gunman entered a Super U supermarket in Trebes, France and opened fire. He took hostages, and at least one person is reportedly dead, CNN reports.
“Shots were heard, a man appears to be holed up in a supermarket, probably with hostages,” French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe said of the incident, the New York Times reports. “A police operation is underway.”
The gunman reportedly claimed to be acting on behalf of ISIS. Further, a prosecutor says it looks like the attack was “ISIS-inspired,” a prosecutor told CNN affiliate BFM TV.
“All of the information we have at the moment suggests that this is a terrorist attack,” Philippe continued.
Photos of the supermarket show that police are surrounding the building and creating a secure area. French Interior Minister Gérard Collomb tweeted that he was immediately on his way to the scene.
#Trèbes : je me rends immédiatement sur les lieux.
— Gérard Collomb (@gerardcollomb) March 23, 2018
?? Intervention de police en cours à #Trèbes dans l'#Aude. La priorité est à l'intervention des forces de police et de secours. Plus d'informations à venir sur ce compte, ne diffusez pas de rumeurs ?? pic.twitter.com/M2t4mLccG0
— Ministère de l'Intérieur (@Place_Beauvau) March 23, 2018
Trebes is located in southern France, about 50 miles south of Toulouse.
More to come…