A group of gunmen have broken into a Primark store in a suburban Paris shopping centre, with 10 people trapped inside.
Special police units are surrounding the shop in the town of Villeneuve-la-Garenne, according to a Paris regional police official.
The official said the assailants had been trying to rob the store and entered around 5.30am BST.
The official said it is unclear whether the 10 people trapped inside are being held hostage or are hiding from the gunmen.
Television images showed several elite police officers entering a side door of the shopping centre mid-morning.
Ma ville se transforme en Films d'actions #braquagePrimark #VLG #qwartz #police #Primark pic.twitter.com/squijkDJUr
— kirikou est petit (@HolySheilla) July 13, 2015
Police said the centre and the surrounding area are closed to the public because of the security operation.
The discount clothing store is in a shopping centre adjacent to the River Seine, about six miles north of central Paris.
There was no immediate sign of a political or other motive for the raid.
The Paris region remains on high alert for terrorist activity after Islamic extremists attacked a kosher supermarket and satirical newspaper offices in January, leaving 20 people dead, including the attackers.
Paris hostage crisis: Armed robbers hold up 10 people inside Primark store … pic.twitter.com/810eFoYgrT pic.twitter.com/d6payBxfMb
— Severus Snape (@PerfectlyAnkit) July 13, 2015
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