Police officers gathered today near a school complex south of Paris where an armed man took hostages. The suspect eventually let the hostages go unharmed and was taken into custody by authorities.

PARIS — An armed man who took hostages this morning at a school complex south of Paris released them all unhurt and was taken into police custody, authorities said.

The drama began as parents dropped their children off at the complex, which includes nursery and elementary schools. French schools are closed for the summer but still run activities. Most hostages, who included children, were freed fairly quickly, police said, though one parent was held for several hours. All were unhurt.

Shortly after releasing the last hostage, the man walked out, said Pierre Dartout, the prefect of the region. Teams from the elite Raid police force had been negotiating with him and took him into custody, also unhurt.

The man’s motivations were unclear. Ludovic Magne, a police union representative, said the suspect was incoherent in his discussions with the Raid police. He was undergoing psychological exams, Magne said.

Little was known about the hostage-taker, but a judicial official said he was in his 30s and had no police record.