Two bank robbers were holding at least six hostages south of Paris this morning, police and news reports said.

Police said the hold up was at a branch of the Credit Lyonnais bank at a wholesale food market in Rungis. Television networks said authorities were notified by an employee who managed to escape. News channel LCI said six people were being held.

The market claims to be the largest in the world for fresh produce. The bank is one of about 20 grouped together in an area known as "the money wall" by market employees, market spokesman Philippe Stisi said.

The market sells about 1.8 million tons of fresh produce a year, he said.

Police said the hostage takers were armed with handguns. Police union member Jean Plontisci-Pierrard said on I-Tele that no shots had been fired and that there were no injuries. He said eight people were being held hostage.

from : the independant