Gunmen ‘take 18 people hostage’ in French Primark robbery

Gunmen are holding up a store with as many as 18 people inside near Paris, the AFP news agency has reported. Up to three gunmen entered the Primark store in Villeneuve-la-Garenne, north-west of the French capital, at 6.30am local time, sources said. It is understood a female Primark employee sent a text message to her boyfriend at 7am saying she was being held hostage by two armed men. There is no early suggestion of a terrorist link.

Around 6:30 am (0530 GMT), two or three armed criminals went into the Primark store for what we think was initially an attempt at armed robbery.

Police source

Special police units are surrounding the clothes store, police said. Shutters at other stores in the precinct remained closed. Le Parisien newspaper said that up to 18 hostages were being held. It quoted witnesses who say people were running near the store screaming: “They are armed, they are armed." It is not clear whether the gunmen are still inside the building or whether they have fled. They locked the staff in a safe room.