Several die in French
gun rampage
One suspect has been detained by police
At least one gunman has gone on the rampage in the French city of Tours, killing up to four people and injuring around five others.
An eyewitness told BBC News Online she saw a man, dressed in military uniform and wearing a hood, open fire at random on passers-by in the city centre.
Armed police are surrounding a city centre car park where the gunman is believed to have taken refuge.
Some reports said two men were involved in the shooting. One person has been detained near the car park, and was led away in handcuffs.
The motive for the attack remains unclear, but it is thought the shooting began outside the city's courthouse. Other people were shot near the town's railway station and main post office.
Eyewitness Emanuelle Cartier said the man was shouting as he shot people.
"I was only 10 metres away when he started shooting," she told BBC News Online.
"I saw people lying on the ground, shot. I was very shocked. I managed to turn a corner into another street.
"I could not see his face clearly, as he was wearing a hood."
Ms Cartier managed to escape to the local tourist office, where she works, where other passers by had also taken refuge.
Running in fear
"We have been told to stay inside and lock the doors," Edwige Guignard, of the tourist office, told News Online.
"Everybody ran in from the streets. We have around 15 people taking refuge here, and 15 staff. Everyone is afraid."
The incident began near the city's post office at 0945 (0845GMT), she said.
Dozens of armed police officers went to the scene, surrounding the car park where the man was believed to be hiding.
Security across France has been tightened in
the wake of the 11 September attacks, under
the high-security plan known as Vigipirate.
Extra armed officers, some with dogs, have
been deployed at key sites across France.
-- Anonymous, October 29, 2001