The latest Paris hostage crisis ended without bloodshed today after a knife attacker who falsely claimed he had a Kalashnikov and grenades gave himself up to armed police.

Police had surrounded a post office in Colombes, around seven miles from the centre of the French capital.

The gunman reportedly phoned police to confirm that he had taken hostages in the post office on 158 boulevard du general de Gaulle.

Two captives are understood to have already been released, according to French media.

Armed police train their weapons on a post office in the Paris suburb of Colombes where a gunman has taken three people hostage

French Research and Intervention Brigades (BRI) police officers stand guard near the post office in the Paris suburb of Colombes

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Closing in: The gunman reportedly phoned police to confirm he had taken hostages in the post office on 158 boulevard du general de Gaulle

Game is up: The suspected hostage-taker emerges from the post office with his hands up as police in riot gear train their weapons on him

Taken into custody: A suspect in a hostage taking situation is detained by armed police outside the post office in Colombes

Handcuffed: The alleged hostage-taker is arrested by French Research and Intervention Brigades (BRI) police officers

The suspect, who identified himself to police, is known to the authorities for minor crimes, it was reported by RTL.

Negotiations between the man and special police units are underway. It is not known if the siege is linked to last week’s terror attacks.

A police official said: ‘I cannot confirm or deny whether it is linked to terrorism