'AT LEAST SIX HOSTAGES' IN PARIS SUPERMARKET

Members of the French police special forces launch the assault at a kosher grocery store in Porte de Vincennes, eastern Paris. (Photo: AFP)

Paris, 19 Rabi’ul Awwal 1436/10 January 2015 (MINA) – Hostage takers holding at least six people at a Paris kosher supermarket are demanding freedom for the cornered brothers suspected of the Charlie Hebdo massacre.

Gunfire and explosions rang out in Dammartin-en-Goele, on the outskirts of Paris, where the two brothers are holed up with a hostage, Sky News quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

SWAT teams were surrounding the shop in the eastern part of the capital, and a group of policemen were seen approaching the back door. Three ambulances rushed to the scene.

It is thought that two hostage takers might be inside the shop, and Israeli TV said a six-month old baby and the baby’s mother are among those held captive.

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A police officer told Sky News that a gunman went in the supermarket and started shooting immediately.

According to the AP news agency, which quoted a police source, the gunman said “You know who I am” as he opened fire inside.

Reports over the number of casualties are conflicting.

The interior ministry denied reports that two people had been killed, and the AP reported that several people were wounded, and were later able to flee and get medical care.

he attack comes on the eve of the Jewish Sabbath.

The hostage takers are believed to be the suspects who killed a policewoman in Montrouge, southern Paris, on Thursday.

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French police released mugshots of a man and a woman linked to policewoman killing, saying they are armed and dangerous.

They have been named as Amedy Coulibaly, 32, and Hayat Boumeddiene, 26.

The latest siege has further heightened tensions in a city shaken by the Charlie Hebdo shooting on Wednesday.

Kosher restaurants were closing across Paris and all stores in the famed Marais Jewish neighbourhood, which is far from the hostage situation, were ordered shut.

Schools in the Porte de Vincennes area, near the scene of siege, were on lockdown and two subway stops were closed. Part of the ring road around the capital was also closed, according to Le Figaro.

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Armed police are responding to false alarms across the city, including at the Trocadero area, near the Eiffel Tower.

In Thursday’s attack, a trainee policewoman, named as Clarissa Jean-Philippe, 25, was killed. A street sweeper was seriously injured in the incident. (T/P001/R04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)