Paris hostage siege: Man 'armed with bomb and gun' takes three people captive, including pregnant woman

French special forces, an ambulance and the bomb squad are in the Rue des Petites Ecuries and the area is on lockdown

An armed man claiming to have a bomb has taken three people including a pregnant woman hostage in Paris.

The Rue des Petites Ecuries in Paris is on lockdown with armed police warming the area.

Videos and images from the scene show numerous police cars and a cordon has been put in place on the narrow street in the French capital.

Anti-terrorist police are surrounding the Mixicom computer store in the French capital’s 10th arrondissement, close to the Gare du Nord Eurostar hub.

Local news outlet France Bleu reports that "the man claims to be in possession of a bomb and a handgun". One of the hostages is thought to have a head injury.

French special forces, an ambulance and the bomb squad are on the scene and onlookers say the area is on lockdown.

                   A street in Paris is on lockdown after reports of an 'armed man with a hostage' (Image: @ PGrasset1/Twitter)

                                     One hostage is said to be 'seriously injured' (Image: Twitter) 

            French special forces are on the scene as the man claims he has an armed accomplice nearby (Image: Twitter)

                              Armed officers at the scene of the incident in Paris

Police said the incident did not appear to be terrorism-related.

They also cannot confirm that the man is armed.

One man is said to have been injured after being hit by wrench as the man - who has not been identified – entered the shop during the late afternoon on Tuesday.

He has told officers that he "wants to get a message to the Iranian embassy and the French government," said a source at the scene.

The man is said to be carrying a handgun, and says that he has explosives in a bag, the source added.
There were no immediate details on the age, appearance or nationality of the hostage taker.

            A picture from a nearby building show frightened people gathered on the street (Image: Twitter / @benboo1981)

     Those nearby have shared images on Twitter and said the whole area is on lockdown (Image: @fredericammico/Twitter)

          Those nearby have said they are being held inside local cafes for their safety (Image: @MatMichal/Twitter)

Le Parisien reports that two of the hostages are OK but one is in a serious condition.

The news outlet also reports that the man claims he has an "armed accomplice" outside the building.

By 5pm, the whole area around Mixicom was in lock down, as people were told to avoid the area.

                      The fire brigade and the bomb squad are at the scene (Image: AFP)

                   The police have not confirmed if the suspect is armed (Image: AFP)

https://twitter.com/ldvll/status/1006550639713882113?ref_src=twsrc^tfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mirror.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fworld-news%2Fbreaking-paris-street-lockdown-after-12689880

Those nearby have shared pictures of armed police outside a building on Twitter.

A reporter with BFM Paris said the armed man has taken two hostages.
He tweeted: "An armed man is entrenched rue des Petits Stables (Paris 10th). He's holding two hostages. Cordoned off by law enforcement."