Isis claims responsibility for Paris shooting attack that left one police officer dead

President Francois Hollande says he is convinced it was a terrorist attack

Masked police stand on top of their vehicle on the Champs-Elysees after a police officer was killed and two were injured (REUTERS)

Isis has claimed responsibility for the shooting attack in Paris that has left one police officer dead and two seriously injured.

In a statement from its Amaq news agency, the extremist group gave a pseudonym for the shooter indicating he was Belgian.

The claim of responsibility came unusually swiftly for the group, which has been losing territory in Iraq and Syria.

The French interior ministry said it was too early to tell what the motive was for the attack in the Champs-Elysees but President Francois Hollande said he was convinced it was a terrorist attack.‌

An emergency meeting of security, defence and intelligence officials would be held on Friday, he said in a televised statement.

Mr Hollande said: “We shall be of the utmost vigilance, especially in relation to the election.”

A counter-terrorism investigation has been opened and police officials said the suspect, who was killed by officers, had previously been flagged as an extremist.

The Paris prosecutor's office said it had identified the attacker and was looking into whether he acted alone. Raids are ongoing in the city, it was reported.

Shortly after the attack a witness told French media: “Suddenly everyone got up and started running, we didn't even have the time to understand what was happening.

“We heard one or two gunshots. We ran. I really didn't understand what was happening, we moved down the street, police told us to move down further.

“I didn't see if they were two, three or just one assailant. We just ran.

“We heard two gunshots. All the people sat on the terrace got up and ran, chairs were falling over.”