Police officials have reported that a car crashed into a police van before bursting into flames on the Champs-Élysées in central Paris. The site of the crash, on the avenue and popular shopping district, is only 200m away from the Presidential Palace where the new President, Emmanuel Macron lives.
The driver, who was carrying weapons inside the vehicle, was knocked unconscious and was seriously injured. The French interior minister Gérard Collomb later reported that the 31-year-old driver had subsequently died from his injuries.
No other casualties have been reported. According to The Telegraph, the driver was known to authorities and had been placed on a security watch list. In his car, police found a Kalashnikov rifle, handguns, gas canisters and 'numerous' gun cartridges.
Police patrol the area. Credit: PA
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The area has been sectioned off after police had to smash the windows of the car to get to the perpetrator inside. Police are treating the incident as a deliberate attack.
The situation is now reported to be under control.
France remains in a state of emergency after being targeted in terror attacks in recent years, beginning with the nightclub attacks by Islamic extremists in November 2015. In April this year, before the presidential election, a policeman was shot dead and two others seriously wounded near the Champs-Élysées.
The Arc de Tromphe, at the western end of the avenue. Credit: Luciano Guelfi / Creative Commons
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A police spokeswoman said: "Today at around 3.40pm, a police squadron was going down the Champs-Élysées. A Renault Mégane overtook it on the right and hit the van at the front of the police cortege.
"The Renault Mégane caught fire. Police started sealing off the area. No military personnel or tourists were injured. The individual is apparently dead. An inquiry has been launched. It appears he was armed."
Mr Collom, who tweeted a picture of himself at the scene, added that this 'attempted attack' demonstrated the ongoing reality of the terror threat. He also made clear his intention to present a bill at a cabinet meeting this week, in favour of extending France's state of emergency until 1 November.
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He added that new security laws were needed, and he would propose to 'maintain a high security level'.
France's state of emergency is currently scheduled to expire on 15 July.
Featured Image Credit: PA
