Police shoot hostage taker at French post office

PARIS - French police shot dead an armed man who had briefly taken five people hostage in a post office west of Paris, police said on Thursday.

The 24-year old man had robbed the post office in the town of Limay, but was prevented from fleeing by police officers near the building, a spokesman said.

After an exchange of fire with the officers, the robber fled back into the building, where he took the hostages.

"He started a fire inside the building, causing a lot of smoke. He refused to negotiate," the spokesman said.

Officers forced their way into the building around four hours after the hostage-taking started and shot the man.

None of the hostages were wounded, the spokesman said, but declined to give any further details of the hostage-taker.

- REUTERS