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Armed man takes 7 people hostage in Paris travel agency – reports (VIDEOS) 6 hostages released after Paris siege – police (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)
(35 minutes later)
Seven people have been taken hostage in a Paris travel agency office by an armed man, AFP reports citing police sources. A siege in a Paris travel agency office has come to a close with the release of six hostages, but the suspect is reportedly still at large.
The armed man in question appears to be a robber armed with a handgun, AFP reports. Local media reports suggest that the incident was a botched robbery attempt.
Police special forces are at the site, the French Lexpress reports, adding that law enforcement has cordoned off the area near the place where the hostages are held. It started at approximately 6:30 p.m. Friday when the man, who was reportedly armed with a handgun, stormed the Asieland agency on Boulevard Massena, in the 13th Arrondissement.
The incident is believed to be taking place in the Asieland travel agency on Boulevard Massena, in the city’s 13th Arrondissement. 
On its official Twitter account, police have called on people to bypass the area. On its official Twitter account, the Paris police force asked people to avoid the area.
Negotiators have arrived on scene, according to reports on social media.  Negotiators were called to the scene.
Reuters is reporting that the travel agency has been held up in the past and is particularly popular with Asian customers who deal in cash transactions.
Paris police have tweeted that six people have been evacuated from the office. The gunman remains inside, however. Reuters reported that the travel agency has been held up before and is particularly popular with Asian customers who deal in cash transactions.Shortly before 9 p.m. local time, Paris police tweeted that the standoff had ended after police intervention. They said six people were evacuated from the office, but the gunman was not among those who came out.
AFP has reported that he fled the scene.
"There were two different floors, a ground floor and a basement,” Jérôme Coumet, mayor of the 13th Arrondissement, told reporters. “The employees were afraid that the robber would still be there, which was not the case. Everyone was released but the robber has not yet been arrested."