An officer has been killed and another hurt in a shooting on the Champs Elysées in Paris Thursday night, according to French media. The suspect has reportedly been killed.
BREAKING: One policeman killed after shooting incident on Champs Elysees in Paris; person who fired on police killed
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) April 20, 2017
The Champs Elysées has been closed as the authorities investigate. Images have begun surfacing on Twitter.
Champs Elysee Paris blocked and empty after 2 policeman shot. Details sketchy. Huge police presence. pic.twitter.com/O3rNlh0wT2
— James Mates (@jamesmatesitv) April 20, 2017
The shooting comes just three days before the French presidential contest.
UPDATE: Reports suggest that at least two shooters were involved.
UPDATE (3:53 p.m. ET): One attacker shot a police officer as he sat in his cruiser at a red light, Fox News is reporting.
UPDATE (4:09 p.m.): President Trump offered his condolences for the people of France during a joint press conference with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni.
"It looks like another terrorist attack," he said. "It just never ends. We have to be strong and we have to be vigilant."
UPDATE (4:27 p.m.): The police victims were "deliberately targeted," according to authorities.
UPDATE (4:47 p.m.): A second officer is confirmed dead.
UPDATE: Second officer has died in Champs-Elysees shooting, French National Police Union confirms
— NBC News (@NBCNews) April 20, 2017
UPDATE: (5:09 p.m.): Despite reports, the second officer is not dead, according to the French Interior Ministry.
UPDATE: French Interior Ministry says second police officer is not dead despite prior reports; two police officers are seriously wounded https://t.co/KGr7JVaRzh
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) April 20, 2017
UPDATE: (5:20 p.m.): Two police officials told the Associated Press that the assailant had been "flagged as an extremist."
This is a breaking news story and will continue to be updated.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member