Buses arrive to evacuate Dammatin residents

A convoy of buses have started arriving at Dammartin to evacuate residents and school children as police fear the suspected gunmen holed up in a printing warehouse may target civilians if they attempt to break out.

Residents have been advised to turn off lights and stay in their homes, while local schools came under police guard and went into lockdown.

Around 1000 children have already been evacuated from the two nearby primary and two secondary schools.

Some were heard shouting: "Charlie! Charlie!", the BBC reports.

Two of the four runways at nearby Charles de Gaulle airport have also been closed but an airport spokesman said the closures have not disrupted flights.

Dammatin is situated 12km from Charles de Gaulle Airport, which is the main airport serving the French capital.