Paris hostage situation ends without bloodshed

June 12 (UPI) -- A hostage situation ended Tuesday evening after police arrested a man who seized three people in a building in northern Paris, French officials said.

The incident ended without any bloodshed, French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said on Twitter.

"I salute the professionalism and responsiveness of the police and rescue forces," he added.

The unidentified man took the three hostages around 4 p.m. after entering the building pretending to be a delivery man. He told police he had a handgun and a bomb, as well as an accomplice outside of the building in the 10th arrondissement.

Police described the hostage taker as "determined and violent," though they did not confirm whether he was indeed armed.

The man had asked to speak to the Iranian Embassy in Paris. In particular, he wanted to give a letter to the Iranian ambassador. Officials said the man didn't appear to have any ties to terror groups.

Yves Lefebvre, a police union spokesman, told Britain's The Telegraph that at least one hostage had a head injury.

Law enforcement sealed off the streets surrounding the building and prohibited children from leaving nearby schools.

The building includes office spaces as well as residential apartments.