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Montpellier Hostage Situation: France Under Attack Once Again [Breaking]

By Patricia Didelot
Published on: 06:21 PST, Jan 9, 2015

Reports of a hostage situation in Montpellier, France are surfacing only a few hours after two police standoffs came to an end in and around Paris.

According to several reports, a gunman is holding two hostages at this time in a jewelry store in the southern French city of Montpellier. This comes as police stormed two locations killing three gunmen, two of them — Cherif and Said Kouachi — accused of killing 12 people in the Charlie Hebdo attack on Wednesday.

The third suspect is believed to be responsible for killing an unarmed police woman in the streets of Paris on Thursday and was asking that the Kouachi be released. Conflicting reports indicate that aside from the gunman, four hostages were killed in the gun battle.

An officer, who could not be named spoke about the ongoing situation in southern France, saying the attacker has locked himself inside the downtown shop, with police ready to intervene outside, reports. The officer said it is unclear whether the hostage situation in Montpellier is related to the massacre at the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo.

Heavily armed police are seen in photos posted to social media, even though information in scarce at this time.

Some reports on social media suggest that this is just a robbery gone wrong, however, it cannot be ignored in light of the events taking place for the last three days in Paris and its surrounding areas. Initial reports of the Montpellier hostage situation starting coming at about 11:30 a.m. ET, approximately 6:30 p.m. local time.

More information on the Montpellier, France hostage situation as it becomes available.

[Image via Inquisitr]

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