Gunman takes hostages at French supermarket

Shooting incidents have been reported near the historic town of Carcassonne in southern France on Friday.

According to the media reports, a gunman, claiming allegiance to terrorist organisation Islamic State (IS) has taken hostages in a supermarket in south-west France, while one policeman was shot in a separate incident near the town.

It is not yet clear if the two incidents have been undertaken by the same gunman.

French Interior Ministry on Twitter said that security officials were carrying out an operation at the supermarket.

According to reports, a police team from Marseille, who were jogging, targetted by a gunman.

The gunman had initially tried to crash his vehicle into the police team.

"They threw themselves to the floor but one of them was hit in the shoulder," France Info radio quoted a source as saying.

Further details are awaited.