A GUNMAN claiming allegiance to Islamic State (ISIS) has killed at least one hostage at a supermarket in the south of France.
It came after a police officer was attacked in the town of Carcassonne, to the south-west of the country.
Shortly later, a butcher was killed during a hostage-taking at a Super U supermarket in Trebes, 15 minutes' drive away.
It's not yet known whether the incidents are linked, but French prosecutors confirmed they are treating the hostage-taking as a terror incident.
French media say a man had fired shots at a group of policemen who were jogging, wounding one of them, but not critically.
A gunman then killed at least one person while taking hostages at the supermarket, according to reports.
Mayor Eric Mnassi told BFM TV that the hostage-taker was now alone with one police officer in the supermarket and all other hostages had been freed.
Prime Minister Édouard Philippe said the situation was "serious", with hundreds of police officers deployed to the scene.
The gunman claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group, he added.
Local authorities in the Aude region are warning people to avoid the area.
More to follow.
See More: France, Hostage Situation, ISIS, Supermarket, Terror Attack
