A former teacher armed with a handgun surrendered today after taking nearly two dozen people hostage in a classroom in France, police said.

A former teacher armed with a handgun and reportedly suffering from depression took some 20 people hostage today – 18 of them students – holding them in a high school classroom, French police and a school employee said.

A former teacher armed with a hand gun took some 20 people, including students, hostage today, holding them in a high school classroom, French police said.