Paris hostage situation ends after gunman surrenders

THE hostage situation at a post office near Paris has ended with no injuries.
Armed police stand guard near the post office where an armed man is holed up with two hostages. Picture: GettyArmed police stand guard near the post office where an armed man is holed up with two hostages. Picture: Getty
Armed police stand guard near the post office where an armed man is holed up with two hostages. Picture: Getty

The man, who was armed with a rifle, was a customer who seemed “to have lost his head,” Paris police said.

The gun man, who reportedly cited a “love disappointment” in negotiations with police, held a group of people at the post office in Colombe, a suburb a few miles north west of France’s capital, just after 1pm French time.

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Witnesses described a man holding a “weapon of war”, reports claimed.

It is believed that there is no link to the terrorists behind the Charlie Hebdo shooting. Reports claimed that the man is known to police due to a history of petty crime.

Officers cordoned off the area, while a police helicopter was heard circling overhead.

The incident happened shortly after another gun incident in the town of Reims, the hometown of Said Kouachi, one of the brothers who killed 12 people at the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, last week.

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