PARIS, January 9 (Sputnik) — French President Francois Hollande is holding an emergency meeting with French security officials in the headquarters of the Interior Ministry amid the hostage situation taking place northeast of the French capital.
The country's Prime Minister Manuel Valls, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, national security, the leadership of the defense and law enforcement agencies and other officials are also taking part in the meeting.
Terrorist activity has increased in France recently as the security alert has been raised to the highest level in the country’s northern region of Picardy and central Ile-de-France.
On Wednesday, alleged Islamic extremists killed 12 people and injured 11 at office of the Charlie Hebdo satirical weekly in Paris. The two gunmen are currently holding a hostage in the department of Seine-et-Marne near Paris. The building is surrounded by police, with law enforcers negotiating with the suspected terrorists, according to media reports from the scene.
The two gunmen were earlier identified as Said and Cherif Kouachi, French nationals of Algerian origin.
