A hostage-taking incident in the northern French town of Roubaix has ended and all the hostages are safe, officials say.

The Nord region officials did not say where the incident took place, how many people had been held or how many hostage-takers had been involved.

Local media reported the hostage-taking was not terrorism-related but the result of a possible robbery. Reports indicated shots had been fired at police at the start of the hostage-taking.

Police special forces were deployed to the area and local roads were temporarily cordoned off.

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