A man has taken several people hostage at a bank branch in downtown Le Havre, AFP reported, citing the police. According to the sources, the perpetrator was wielding a handgun and has taken as many as five people hostage.
The police said on Twitter that they are conducting an operation at Strasbourg Boulevard, but did not give specifics. They added that they have established a security perimeter in the area and called on citizens to avoid it.
According to France Bleu, the attacker has put forward numerous demands, but they have not been reported yet. The hostage situation has been ongoing since 4.45 p.m. local time (14.45 GMT).
Shortly after the police came, bomb squad officers arrived at scene of the Le Havre bank hostage situation, an official said.
A video from the scene has emerged online showing police cars parked on the street.
Prise d’otages au #Havre : de nouveaux véhicules blindés du raid arrivent sur place. pic.twitter.com/gDTuvfjKq5
— MC Nouvellon (@macha_mcn) August 6, 2020
Hostage-Taker in Le Havre on Police Security Watchlist
"We've identified him. He's on a watchlist. We know that he has been radicalised and suffers a serious psychiatric illness", Yves Lefebvre, the head of SGP Unite police union, said, as quoted by Reuters.
The police spokesman stated that the suspect is a 34-year-old man carrying a gun and is known to have serious psychiatric problems.
