An armed man is holding a parent hostage at a school in Vitry-sur-Seine, on the outskirts of Paris, France, after releasing a group of children he had been holding.

The parent had come to drop his child off at the school in Vitry-sur-Seine, which is being used as a leisure centre during the holidays, police said.

Elite police Raid unit officers and a negotiator are at the scene.

Many schools run summer activities during the holidays.

An armed man is holding a parent hostage at a school in Vitry-sur-Seine

The school is in the centre of the town, itself some 7.5 km (5 miles) from the centre of Paris.

Police were called at about 07:00 to the school, where 5-10 children and three parents were at the time, French radio reports.

The children were quickly released, said a reporter for France Info radio who is at the scene.

The hostage-taker is said to be in his 30s and unknown to the police. He was wearing a binman’s green boiler suit when he entered the school, police sources told French radio.

Although his demands are unclear, he is said to be very determined, police say.

The Guardian: Armed man takes hostage at Paris school