Paris: a robber barricaded inside La Samaritaine

According to BFM TV, a man suspected of having robbed a watch shop (at around 1.50 pm) has barricaded himself inside the Parisian department store La Samaritaine, which is currently undergoing renovation work. The shop is situated between Rue de Rivoli and the River Seine. There are reportedly no hostages and no injuries. The alleged robber is said to have stolen watches worth a total of €200,000. He is believed to be armed with a handgun. He abandoned his vehicle whilst fleeing.   The department store’s construction site has been evacuated and a security cordon has been set up stretching from Châtelet to the Louvre. More information to follow.