#then released

French police are on the hunt for armed robbers who held up a Primark store in a mall near Paris on Monday. The incident occurred in the Qwartz mall in Villeneuve-la-Garenne, just north of Paris. “It started around 6:30 this morning, with about 10 hostages taken and later released, though at this point it is unclear whether they were taken deliberately or just hid in the store. Special forces intervened at the scene and ended the situation,” a spokesperson for the local police told WWD earlier today. “Police are in attendance, and media inquiries are being referred to them,” a spokesperson for Primark told WWD, adding: “We will do all we can to support our staff and their families. We hope for a speedy and safe end to this incident.” According to local press reports, the incident was treated as a robbery, though initial reports suggested that terrorism might be a factor. It’s been a challenging year in the French capital, with the Charlie Hebdo terrorist shootings dramatically affecting the city early this year. Tomorrow marks Bastille Day, a major holiday in France.

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