France siege: Trebes supermarket hostage-taker who killed three is shot dead by police

Live updates from the Telegraph while watching TV news

An armed supermarket hostage-taker who claimed allegiance to Islamic State has been shot dead by police after killing three people in attacks in southern France.

The gunman – said to be a Moroccan national in his 30s known to the intelligence services – held up a car in Carcassonne on Friday morning and killed the driver, before opening fire on police and taking hostages in a supermarket in nearby Trebes.

The hostage-taker, who was killed in a police assault after around four hours, reportedly shouted Allahu Akbar as he burst into the Super U store. He is said to have demanded the release of Salah Abdeslam, the prime suspect in the 2015 Paris attacks.

Police confirmed at least two people – thought to be a shop worker and customer – have been killed and a dozen more injured. Around 50 people fled the supermarket, but a police chief warned the casualty toll is likely to rise, saying: “We are unfortunately expecting to find more victims.”

It also emerged that a French military officer took the place of a supermarket hostage. The 45-year old lieutenant-colonel swapped himself in exchange of one of the hostages, a source close to the investigation said.

I don’t suppose this will be last. It’s only Friday lunchtime.