Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Paris police shoot and injure a knife-wielding man who tried to attack officers at Arc de Triomphe

French officials say a man with a knife tried to attack police under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and an officer shot and wounded him

A man wielding a knife tried to attack police during a ceremony beneath the Arc de Triomphe monument in Paris on Friday, and was shot and injured by a police officer, officials said.

The attacker targeted an officer securing the ceremony for relighting the eternal flame honoring unknown soldiers at the Napoleon-era landmark, according to a Paris police official. Another officer shot the attacker, who was hospitalized, the official said.

No bystanders or police officers were injured in the incident, the official told The Associated Press.

The French counterterrorism prosecutor’s office said it is investigating the case and sent an investigator to the scene.

The Arc de Triomphe is one of Paris' most famous sites, and sits atop the busy Champs-Elysees avenue.

No other details were immediately available.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in