One person have reportedly been freed after a man had taken six people hostage in a tobacco shop. He is allegedly armed and is threatening to open fire at police. The man, who says he belongs to the "Yellow Vests’ militant wing", is demanding that a negotiator be brought in and is warning that he will shoot a hostage if the security perimeter is not distant, France 3 reported.
The hostage-taker, reportedly a 17-year-old boy, has opened fire at police in order to drive them away.
Police have alerted the neighbourhood, asking residents to stay home and close their shutters, La Depeche reported.
🔴URGENT🇨🇵: Une prise d'otages est en cours à #Blagnac près de #Toulouse dans un bar-tabac. L'individu serait armé et menacerait d'abattre un otage. Le #RAID est sur place. #France pic.twitter.com/hx4D62kt2g
— La Plume Libre (@LPLdirect) 7 мая 2019 г.
"A police operation is underway at the port plan area in Blagnac. Thank you for avoiding the area and respecting the security permimiter", police said on Twitter.
Opération de police en cours sur le secteur du plan du Port à BLAGNAC — Merci de bien vouloir éviter le secteur et respecter le périmètre de sécurité. pic.twitter.com/DghlkjtkjY
— Police Nationale 31 (@PoliceNat31) 7 мая 2019 г.
A witness contacted by La Depeche stated that it could be a robbery that went wrong. Terrorism has been dismissed at this stage, according to the authorities.
PRISE D'OTAGES: Plusieurs personnes sont retenues en otage par un homme armé dans un bureau de tabac à #Blagnac, près de Toulouse. RAID sur place, un braquage aurait mal tourné (La Dépêche). pic.twitter.com/z1rEbUKk6q
— Infos Françaises (@InfosFrancaises) 7 мая 2019 г.
— Tristan Sarrat (@TristanSarrat) 7 мая 2019 г.
