France: 2 deaths in 'terrorist' hostage standoff

By Hajer M'tiri

PARIS (AA) - The hostage-taking in southern France is almost certainly “an act of terrorism,” Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said Friday, with at least two deaths officially confirmed in the ongoing standoff.

Two people have been killed and three others have been wounded, one of them seriously, according to the Interior Ministry. Frederic de Lanouvelle, a ministry spokesman, confirmed the deaths and said it is not known how many hostages are inside, adding: "The aim is to avoid further violence."

Police SWAT teams have surrounded the supermarket in the town of Trebes, in the Aude department, where at least one gunman is holding several people hostage. French police, military and special forces have sealed off the area, with three helicopters overflying.

In Paris, Philippe described the standoff as "serious," adding, "All information we have suggests it is an act of terrorism."

Broadcaster BFMTV said the hostage-taker is known to French security services and has demanded the release of Salah Abdeslam, who is in jail awaiting trial for his alleged involvement in the 2015 Paris terrorist attacks.

Some media reports said the gunman had been identified through his car license plate as a 30-year-old local, and his mother has been taken to the scene, presumably to talk him into giving himself up.

Interior Minister Gerard Collomb tweeted that he was heading to the scene.

The gunman had earlier opened fire at four police officers jogging in the nearby town of Carcassonne, injuring at least one, according to BFMTV.

Philippe said the CRS national reserve police officer shot does not have "life-threatening injuries."

The gunman fled by car and entered the Super U supermarket in the Aude department around 11 am local time (10:46 GMT).

The Aude prosecutor said the attacker claimed to be a “soldier of Daesh,” according to French radio Franceinfo.

Paris anti-terrorist prosecutors have opened a probe.

President Emmanuel Macron, currently attending an EU summit in Brussels, is expected to give a statement soon.

Pupils at four schools and a college at Trebes are being kept inside, according to France’s education minister.