BBC: Four people have been taken hostage in a bank in the southern French city of Toulouse by a man claiming to be linked to al-Qaeda, police say.Officials say the gunman first demanded money. When he was refused, a shot was fired and hostages taken.
The man demanded to speak to the elite Raid police unit that shot Islamist gunman Mohamed Merah.
Merah, who claimed al-Qaeda training, killed seven people in Toulouse before he was shot dead by police in March.
There are no reports of injuries in the incident so far.
The area around the bank has been cordoned off and two nearby schools have been closed.
"We're taking measures so we can start a dialogue," said public prosecutor Michel Valet, at the scene. » | Wednesday, June 20, 2012
LE FIGARO: Prise d'otages dans une banque à Toulouse : Un individu qui se revendique d'al-Qaida retient quatre personnes depuis 10 heures ce matin, dans une succursale de la banque CIC. ¶ Un homme armé se revendiquant d'al-Qaida retient en otage mercredi quatre personnes dans une succursale de la banque CIC, avenue Camille Pujol, à Toulouse. Le directeur de l'établissement fait partie des captifs. » | Par lefigaro.fr, Gary Assouline, Jean-Marc Leclerc | mercredi 20 juin 2012
