An armed man is understood to be holding at least six people hostage at a bank in France.
The situation has been described as an "active" robbery and hostage situation in Harve, northern France.
He is said to have stormed the bank on boulevard de Strasbourg shortly before 4.45pm, and is believed to be a 34-year-old who has a known psychiatric history, BFMTV report.
French news website actu.fr has claimed police are concerned the man holding the people hostage is also armed with explosives, but this has not been confirmed.
The road has been locked down and images from social media show police surrounding the area.
The attacker has put forward numerous demands, but are reported to have not been met, and a negotiator is on site, according to France Bleu.
Some local news outlets are reporting one of the hostages was freed.
Footage from the scene shows a street cordoned off as a crowd of onlookers gather on the street.
A number of emergency vehicles can also be seen making their way down the main boulevard.
Elite police have been deployed to the zone.
Two senior police union officials said the assailant had a history of psychiatric illness and was suspected of Islamist sympathies.
We'll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.
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