Terror attack in southern France, hostage-taking and shooting at supermarket

At least one person was killed during a hostage situation in a supermarket in Trebes in southern France, the Depeche du Midi newspaper reported Friday.

Eight people were being held captive, a police source said, adding that the man holding hostages had shot at a police officer.

BFM TV said the hostage-taker had claimed allegiance to Islamic State, and quoted the Mayor of Trebes as saying there have been two "victims."

The local prefecture confirmed the hostage-taking at the Super U supermarket but did not confirm the Islamic State allegiance.

Prime Minister Edouard Phillipe said the situation was "very serious."

Gerard Collomb, the Minister of the Interior (a position similar to the Indian Home Minister's or the the UK Home Secretary's), said he would travel to the site of the operation "immediately."

#Trèbes : je me rends immédiatement sur les lieux.

Gérard Collomb (@gerardcollomb) March 23, 2018

He earlier took stock of the situation with security officials.

French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb (fourth from right) takes stock of the evolving situation in Trebes in southern France. (Photo: Twitter/@gerardcollomb)

A source at the Paris prosecutor's office said counter-terrorism prosecutors were investigating the hostage-taking.

Earlier, France's Interior Ministry had said security officials were carrying out an operation at a supermarket in southern France, but gave no details.

The UNSA police union said a police operation was underway after the same individual who's holding hostages in Trebes had earlier shot at four officers in the Carcassone region, injuring one of them.

(Inputs from Reuters)