Two police officers attacked by terror suspect in shooting on French island of Reunion

Paris prosecutors launch counter-terrorism probe into attack

French gendarmes and police officers escort a person on the French island of Reunion, after a man suspected of being a radicalised Islamist shot two officers on 27 April (AFP/Getty)

Two police officers have been shot in the French overseas region of Réunion by a man suspected of planning an Islamist terror attack.

The Paris prosecutor’s counter-terrorism wing has opened an investigation into the incident in Saint-Benoît, in the east of the island.

“This morning, two policemen in Réunion were wounded while arresting a dangerous individual,” a police spokesperson said.

“After responding to shots, the policemen managed to restrain the assailant.”

Local media reported that police raided the man’s house after monitoring him for several weeks over extremist online activity.

The suspect was said to be in his twenties and had recently converted to Islam.

Fearing he would act, a counter-terror squad entered his home at around 6am local time on Thursday (3am BST) but were faced with the suspect wielding a shotgun, local news website L’Info reported.

In the ensuing gun battle, one police officer was shot in the arm and another in the hand, while the assailant was “neutralised”.

All three men have been taken to hospital in Réunion, which sits east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, making it the farthest-flung EU region and department.

The shooting came just a week after a man murdered a police officer on Paris’ famous Champs-Elysees.

Karim Cheurfi, who had a note expressing support for Isis, emerged from his car with a Kalashnikov and opened fire on a parked police van.

Isis claimed responsibility for the attack, which followed Islamist massacres killing almost 240 people since the start of 2015.

Several plots have been foiled by the security services, including a planned bombing to coincide with the ongoing presidential election.

Far-right candidate Marine Le Pen has attempted to capitalise on fears of terror and immigration, while centrist frontrunner Emmanuel Macron has also put forward policies to improve security.