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French Prime Minister says hostage-taking incident appears to be ‘terrorist act’ French Prime Minister says hostage-taking incident appears to be ‘terrorist act’
(35 minutes later)
The incident in the southern French town of Trebes appears to be “a terrorist act,” the French Prime Minister said. Edouard Philippe added that counterterrorism investigators had taken over the probe into the ongoing situation.The incident in the southern French town of Trebes appears to be “a terrorist act,” the French Prime Minister said. Edouard Philippe added that counterterrorism investigators had taken over the probe into the ongoing situation.
The French head of government said that at least one police officer had been injured as a result of the attack.
There have been conflicting reports of casualties from the supermarket attack. Several French newspapers cited Trebes mayor Eric Menassi who initially said that the shooting had claimed at least one life. However, the mayor later altered his statement, saying that two people had been injured in the supermarket shooting. That information was later retracted by the media, and AFP reported that at least 2 people had died following the hostage-taking. RT has not been able to verify any of these reports.
Menassi also told French media that the shooter was alone save for a police officer, and the rest of the hostages had been freed. Elsewhere, in his statement to the press, Prime Minister Philippe later confirmed that the hostage-taking situation is ongoing in the French commune.
READ MORE: Supermarket hostage-taker in southwestern France claims allegiance to ISIS – local media READ MORE: Supermarket hostage-taker in southwestern France claims allegiance to ISIS – local media 
MORE TO FOLLOW The French head of government said that at least one police officer had been injured as a result of the attack.
“The counterterrorism office has taken the case; all the information we have as I speak leads us to think that this would be a terrorist act,” Philippe told journalists.
A French Interior Ministry spokesman declined to confirm to BFMTV that two people had been killed in the hostage situation at the supermarket.
The hostage-taker demanded the release of Salah Abdeslam, the only surviving terrorist suspect behind the Paris attacks, BFMTV said. Abdeslam is currently in prison awaiting trial for his alleged involvement in the 2015 Paris terrorist attacks.
According to French media, the perpetrator was of Moroccan origin and was known to intelligence services – particularly the General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI).