Gunmen are holding several hostages after what French police sources say was a robbery attempt on a Primark shop north of Paris, BBC reported.
"Some 10 people may be held inside" a shopping centre in Villeneuve-la-Garenne, police sources said.
Special forces have been sent to the scene, police said.
Police have stopped all traffic in the area around the Qwartz shopping centre, and all other shops nearby have also closed.
"At around 06:30 (04:30 GMT), two or three armed criminals went into the Primark store for what we think was initially an attempt at armed robbery," a police source, who wished to remain anonymous, is quoted as saying by AFP news agency.