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Gunman in custody after taking hostages in French post office

A suspect in a hostage taking situation raises his arms in the air as he is detained by members of special French RAID forces outside the post offices in Colombes outside Paris, Friday, Jan. 16, 2015. (Reuters/Philippe Wojazer)
A suspect in a hostage-taking situation is detained by members of special French RAID forces outside the post offices in Colombes outside Paris, Friday, Jan. 16, 2015. (Reuters/Philippe Wojaze)
Members of special French RAID forces secure the area next to the post office in Colombes outside Paris, were an armed gunman is holding hostages, Friday, Jan. 16, 2015. (Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes)
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By SANDRINE AMIEL CNN
January 16, 2015 - 9:53 am
 

A man with a handgun entered a post office outside of Paris early Friday afternoon before reportedly surrendering and releasing his hostages unharmed a short time later.

The incident in Colombes, a community about 10 kilometers northwest of the French capital, began around 12:45 p.m. (6:45 a.m. ET) and was over about two hours later.

The gunman in the incident might be mentally unstable, according to police in Colombes.

Police added that they don’t know yet if the incident is related to terrorism. This is a hot topic in France after last week’s deadly attacks. A Western intelligence source saying there could be as many as 20 terrorist sleeper cells of between 120 and 180 people ready to strike in France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.

The gunman eventually surrendered and the hostages emerged with no injuries, according to France Bleu, which is part the country’s public broadcasting group.

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