Paris attack: Terror probe as police officer 'deliberately' shot dead by gunman

A police officer has been killed and a second injured by a gunman in one of the most popular areas of Paris.

The attacker is believed to have deliberately targeted the officers and was known to security services.

He was then shot dead and an anti-terror investigation is under way into the attack.

The gunman had opened fire outside a Marks and Spencer store on the Champs-Elysees - one of the French capital's main shopping streets and an area popular with tourists.

Security has been tight in the country, coming just days before the first round of France's presidential election on Sunday.

The attacker armed with a Kalashnikov parked his Audi behind a police van, then got out and opened fire on the vehicle, according to a witness called Chelloug.

There had been reports the officer who was injured had died in hospital but that was later denied.

Despite the attacker being killed, police are still on high alert and officers have been seen pointing their weapons at members of public as they clear the area.

The gunman opened fire as the officers were guarding an area near the Franklin Roosevelt metro station on Thursday night.

Authorities are now searching the home of the gunman in the east of Paris.

An interior ministry spokesman said it was too early to say what the motive was for the attack.

It is not known whether it was terror-related.

But the shooting could have been an attempt at an armed robbery, according to police sources.

Many police vehicles can be seen on the famous avenue.

A witness identified only as Ines told French television station BFM that she heard a shooting, saw a man's body on the ground and the area was quickly evacuated by police.

Sky's Mark White said: "All the indications are that it was a terrorist attack."

He added: "Two men were arrested a few days ago with an arsenal of weapons. And that there was a concern that an attack was being planned to coincide with the French election."

He added: "The real concern as far as the authorities are concerned, given that we had arrests two days ago and now what looks to be terrorist-related incident is we may be experiencing a wave or some kind of coordinated effort to disrupt the French elections."

The police investigation of these individuals led them to believe that a planned terrorist attack was due to take place imminently.

US President Donald Trump said the shooting resembled recent terrorist attacks.

He said: "First of all, our condolences from our country to the people of France. Again, it is happening, it seems.

"It looks like another terrorist attack. What can you say? It just never ends. We have to be strong and we have to be vigilant, and I have been saying it for a long time."