Gunman takes hostages at Toulouse bank, fires shot

TOULOUSE, France – A French police official says a man has taken hostages in a bank in the southern city of Toulouse and fired a shot.

French television station BFM says the man claims to be linked to al-Qaida. The police official could not confirm this claim.

The official says no injuries have been reported so far. It is unclear how many hostages are held.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak to the media.

The neighbourhood around the CIC bank is cordoned off.

Toulouse was the site of a rampage against a Jewish school in March that left four dead. Police say the shooter was Mohamed Merah, a 23-year-old who claimed allegiance to al-Qaida.