Paris Shooting: Two Police Officers Killed After Incident on Champs-Elysees 

A gunman has shot two police officers dead before being killed himself in an attack in the Champs-Elysees shopping district, Paris police say.

Paris police spokeswoman Johanna Primevert told reporters the attacker targeted police guarding the area near the Franklin D Roosevelt metro stop on Thursday night (local time) at the centre of the avenue, which is popular with tourists.

One police officer was killed on the scene and one died later from his wounds, police sources said.

The person who fired on police was also killed and a police source said the attacker was known to security services.

[Video: Police swarm Champs-Elysees in Paris after officers shot by gunman – ABC News]

French Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet said police officers were targeted in the shooting, but it is too early to say what the motive was.

A police union on Twitter said the first officer killed had been shot by an attacker driving past as the officer’s car was stopped at a red light.

Witnesses reported a helicopter flying low over central Paris, apparently part of a follow-up police operation.

Authorities called on the public to avoid the area.

New shots were fired near Champs Elysees avenue, more than an hour after the original shooting a police source said.

The counter-terrorism office has opened an investigation into the shooting, the prosecutor’s office said.

France goes to the polls on Sunday in the first round of a closely fought presidential election.

There is still no further word on the identity or motivation of the gunman but jihadism has been a major issue in the campaign … (read more)

Source: ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)