Charlie Hebdo manhunt: Jewish bakery hit in new shooting and hostage siege in Paris suburb of Vincennes
A fresh shooting incident and hostage situation has been reported, as separately, an intense standoff is ongoing between police and the two gunmen suspected of carrying out the massacre at satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, on Wednesday.
The gunman, believed to be the same man who killed a policewoman in Montrouge, southern Paris, yesterday has reportedly stormed a kosher bakery and grocery store in the Vincennes area, taking five people hostage.
Witnesses said the man is heavily armed and opened fire upon entering the premises. Early reports suggest at least one person was injured in the shooting.
Security forces have rushed to the scene and are cordoning off the area.
The hostages are said to include women and children. Vincennes is located on the eastern outskirts of Paris.
Et "@smahrane: Un homme armé dans une épicerie kasher de porte de Vincennes." Des dizaines de policiers présents pic.twitter.com/gNTb2HFtlV
— AC (@ChouetteAgile) January 9, 2015
Earlier local media named the Montrouge gunman as Amedy C., a 32-year-old radical belonging to the same jihadi cell of Said and Cherif Kouachi, the brothers who allegedly responsible for the Charlie Hebdo massacre.
The two brothers are currently holed up inside an industrial building in Dammartin-en-Goële and are holding one person hostage.
The Vincennes hostage-taker has reportedly demanded police lift the siege on the brothers.
"You know who I am and I'm going to keep these hostages until the siege in Dammartin is lifted," he was quoted as saying by the BBC.
French president Francois Hollande ordered the country's top security official to the scene. Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo also tweeted she was heading to Vincennes.
French police have appealed for witnesses to come forward with information regarding two suspects in relation with the Montrouge shooting and released photos of two suspects, a woman and a man, named as Amedy Coulibaly and Hayat Boumeddiene.
SECOND Appel à témoins #Fusillade #Montrouge Contacter le 0805 02 17 17.
En savoir plus >>> http://t.co/8c2UJGQQJy pic.twitter.com/n5h5e6Yb1b
— Préfecture de police (@prefpolice) January 9, 2015
The Council of Jewish Institutions in France (CRIF) has urged French Jews to "stay safe and avoid taking risks" in the aftermaths of the attacks.
Follow IBTimes UK's live coverage of the manhunt here: Charlie Hebdo Paris massacre LIVE.
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