FRANCE — A hostage situation and shooting has been reported in the northern French town of Roubaix near the Belgian border, Reuters reports.
Medical services in the area say several people have gunshot wounds; children are reportedly among the victims.
iTELE are reporting that that the men are entrenched within a house with one family taken hostage, they also report that multiple police officers are injured.
An operation is currently underway after multiple hostages were taken. Gunshots were fired and the neighborhood has been cordoned off, Reuters has reported.
A bank director and his family may have been taken as hostage according to multiple reports.
The number of hostages was unknown. The incident reportedly started at a security checkpoint. Preliminary information is that a Doctor and his family have been taken hostage in a gas station.
Police and first responders were rushing to the scene.
The town is located approximately one hour west of Brussels. Roubaix is an old mono-industrial and working-class commune in northern France, in the department of Nord.
This story comes at a very serious time as France and Belgium is reeling from terror threats as security forces are on heightened alert.
Belgium has been in a state of lockdown after numerous threats have surfaced that ISIS plans on carrying out many more attacks.
This is a developing story. Stay with Breaking911 for updates.
