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# Alert
Armed hostage situation in northern French town
The incident is ongoing in the town of Roubaix.
THERE’S AN ONGOING hostage situation in the northern French town of Roubaix near the Belgian border.
One or more armed men have taken hostages in the town according to local authorities but there was no immediate indication of a link to the Paris attacks.
A police source said the suspect or suspects were holed up in the home of a couple they had been preparing to burgle and had exchanged gunfire with police.
The mayor’s office said the suspect or suspects “carried out a robbery” after which they took hostages.
A special police unit has been dispatched and a security cordon set up around the scene, the mayor’s office and police source said.
More to follow.
