Roubaix site of hostage taking

UPDATE: Hostages in northern France are now safe: French officials

— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) November 24, 2015

Roubaix, the northern French town famous for its velodrome marking the finish of Paris-Roubaix, was the site of a hostage taking. One or more armed men had taken hostages local authorities said Tuesday, but there was no immediate indication of a link to the Paris attacks.

The mayor’s office said the suspect or suspects “carried out a robbery” after which they took hostages. A special police unit has been dispatched, the office said.

Opération de police à Roubaix, une prise d’otages en cours https://t.co/8mOGboTWqd pic.twitter.com/8QNa1QPx6D

— La Voix du Nord web (@lavoixdunord) November 24, 2015

Hostages taken in northern French town: police source https://t.co/7StGSXAqIv

— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) November 24, 2015

“An operation is underway after hostages were taken. Gunshots were fired and the neighborhood has been cordoned off,” a source said to Reuters. “A bank director and his family may have been taken as hostages.”

Other reports suggest the hostage situation is a result of criminal activity and not related to the attacks in Paris on Nov. 13.

Local reports suggest robbery may have been motivation for ongoing hostage-taking in northern France in #Roubaix, near border with #Belgium.

— CBC News Alerts (@CBCAlerts) November 24, 2015

Roubaix was recently identified as the hometown of suspected ISIS bomb maker Mohamed Khoualed. Khoualed is thought to have made the suicide vests used in Paris, which contributed to the killing 130 people.

Paris-Roubaix is cycling most famous Spring Classic. It first ran in 1896. It’s a punishing event run over cobbled sectors. Nicknames for the race include Queen of the Classics and Hell of the North.

With files from AFP