2 dead as gunman takes hostages at supermarket in southern France

A hostage situation in France
(Image credit: Screenshot/YouTube/BBC News)

A gunman took hostages at a Super U supermarket in Trebes, a small town in southwestern France, on Friday. At least two people are dead and dozens wounded, a police spokeswoman tells The Associated Press. A security official told AFP that the gunman has been shot and killed by police.

The Islamic State has taken responsibility for the attack, and local media reports the gunman was demanding the release of Salah Abdeslam, who is the only surviving member of the group that killed 130 people in attacks across Paris in 2015, CBS News writes. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe confirmed that the news out of Trebes "seems to be a terrorist act."

You can learn more in the BBC News report below. Peter Weber

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.