A hostage situation is taking place at a residence in the northern French town of Roubaix after a robbery, but the incident is not thought to be related to terrorism. Gunshots have been heard.

A hostage situation is taking place at a residence in the northern French town of Roubaix after a robbery, but the incident is not thought to be related to terrorism. Gunshots have been heard.

The hostage situation began early on Tuesday afternoon at a residence in Roubaix, near the border with Belgium. It happened after the occupants of a vehicle allegedly carried out a robbery in the area, the mayor's office told AFP. Shots were fired at police, though it was not immediately clear if there were casualties.

It was not immediately clear how many people had been taken hostage, but a police source told the Reuters news agency that the hostages are believed to be a bank director and his family. "An operation is underway after hostages were taken. Gunshots were fired and the neighborhood has been cordoned off," the police source was cited as saying.

Medical services told the Reuters news agency that there were several victims with gunshot wounds, but BNO News has not been able to verify that report.

French media have described the hostage-takers as heavily armed, and the counter-terrorism unit RAID has arrived at the scene.