A major security alert, triggered by a false alarm, has caused panic in central Paris. <br /><br /> There were claims of hostages being taken in Saint-Leu church in Chatelet, according to reports. <br /><br /> A major police operation was launched, involving more than 100 officers.<br /><br /> Cordons were thrown in place and people advised to avoid the area.<br /><br /> “There was a moment of panic,” said waitress Saba Nouira, who works nearby.<br /><br /> “We had customers in the restaurant and they told us to hide, to put people in the cellar. We protected them because there were girls who were almost collapsing.”<br /><br /> Another local worker, Pascal Baroukh, added: “People are definitely traumatised, me just like everyone else and, among my friends, we talk about it all the time. That’s the topic of conversation these days.”<br /><br /> Interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve confirmed the false alarm and said the circumstances of what happened were to be determined. <br /><br /> France is on high alert after a series of attacks by Islamist militants, that have killed more than 230 people since January last year.<br />
