Iran Press/Europe: French police said the suspect has a severe psychiatric illness.
The man subsequently released at least two of the hostages, who were not injured. It was unclear if a third person was released or had escaped, news agency Reuters reported.
The news agency later said a fourth hostage had also been released.
Police think the robber experienced problems during the robbery and it ended up as a hostage situation.
Police sources said an elite intervention unit trained to handle hostage situations had been deployed.
The 34-year-old man was previously known to the police, a police union official involved in the operation said.
Hours later, a Reuters witness and police union official said that the man surrendered to police on Thursday after releasing his captives.
The union official said no weapons were used in the arrest of the man.
Le Havre is a major port city on the English Channel coast.
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