An inmate held two jail staff on Tuesday evening at Alencon-Conde-sur-Sarthe prison in northwestern city of L'Orne, while negotiators and special security teams have been dispatched to the scene, news channel BFMTV reported.

The 35-year-old prisoner was holding in captivity a young trainee and a correction officer. He was demanding to be sent to another prison, according to the report.

"We are dealing with a prisoner who is a specialist in hostage taking," the national secretary of UFAP-UNSA Justice was quoted as saying.

The report added the detainee has psychiatric troubles and is undergoing treatment for drug addictions. He has already been convicted in various cases, including the murder of a fellow prisoner and a rape in 2000.

The Regional Intervention and Security Teams (ERIS) are on site where negotiations are underway to liberate the two hostages whose health situation is not known, BFMTV said, citing a penitentiary source.

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