4 hostages held at French supermarket

PARIS — A police official says armed assailants are holding four employees hostage at a supermarket northeast of Paris.

The official says the assailants originally took six hostages, but two of them, both women, were freed. He says three armed assailants are still holed up inside the supermarket in the suburb of Sevran.

The police official says an elite police intervention squad is on the scene to try to negotiate with the hostage-takers. The area around the shop has been cordoned off.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of department policy.

RTL radio says the assailants holed up inside the supermarket Wednesday after being chased by police.