A knife-wielding attacker has killed one person and injured four in the centre of Paris before being killed by police.

Paris police tweeted that the attack happened Saturday evening in the 2nd arrondissement or district of the French capital.

Police said the person armed with the knife targeted five people, killing one and seriously injuring two and lightly injuring the other two.

They said the attacker died.

Interior minister Gerard Collomb said the alleged attacker was “neutralised” by police and praised officers for their actions

The identity of the attacker and the reason for it are unclear.

Paris has been under higher security in recent years after a string of deadly Islamic extremist attacks. </s> The Latest on a knife attack in Paris (all times local):

French authorities say a knife-wielding assailant killed one person and injured four in the center of Paris before being killed by police.

Paris police tweeted that the attack occurred Saturday evening in the 2nd arrondissement or district of the French capital. Police said the person armed with the knife targeted five people, killing one and seriously injuring two and lightly injuring the other two.

Paris police said the attacker died. Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said the alleged attacker was "neutralized" by police and praised officers for their actions.

The identity of the attack suspect and reason for the attack are unclear.

Paris has been under higher security in recent years after a string of deadly Islamic extremist attacks.

French authorities are denouncing a knife attack in central Paris that French media say left two dead including the assailant.

The Paris police said the attacker was subdued by officers during the stabbing attack in the 2nd arrondissement or district of the French capital Saturday. The police said the attacker was armed with a knife, but gave no other details.

French media reported that two people are dead, and BFM television said one of them is the alleged attacker. The motive or reason for the attack was unclear.

Interior Minister Gerard Collomb denounced the "odious attack" in a tweet. Paris has been under higher security in recent years after a string of deadly Islamic extremist attacks. </s> A man armed with a knife in Paris has killed at least one person and injured several others before being shot dead by police, according to French media.

The attack on Saturday reportedly took place near the main opera house in the French capital.

The Paris prefecture said a person who carried out the knife attack was overpowered by police, without giving any more details.

Citing sources close to official investigations, AFP news agency said that two people, including the attacker, were killed and several were injured.

BFM TV also said that one person was killed in the attack, while the assailant was shot dead by police.

In a message on Twitter, Interior Minister Gerard Collomb praised the "cool and quick reaction of the police forces who neutralised the attacker".

There was no immediate information about the suspect's motive. </s> 01:04 (GMT+4) A man killed a passer-by in a knife attack in the heart of Paris and injured four others before being shot dead by police, French authorities said, Reuters reported.

“A person attacked five people in the second district of Paris. Police intervened immediately,” Pierre Gaudin, a senior official at the Paris prefecture, told reporters.

“The individual died. Another person, seriously injured (by the attacked) died from their injuries.”

The Paris prefecture had earlier said a person had carried out a knife attack in the second arrondissement - or district - of the French capital. Paris’ opera and landmark retail stores are located in that area. </s> French authorities have condemned a knife attack in central Paris that the country's media say left two dead including the attacker.

The Paris police said the attacker was subdued by officers during the stabbing attack in the 2nd arrondissement or district of the French capital on Saturday.

Paris Police tweeted: "An attack on five people in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris by an individual armed with a knife: One victim has died, two are seriously wounded and two are injured slightly. The assailant is dead."

The identity of the attacker and the person's motives are unclear.

French police asked the public not to spread rumours about the attack before the facts became clear.

"Please only share information coming from a trusted source," the police tweeted.

Interior minister Gerard Collomb condemned the "odious attack" and said the alleged attacker was "neutralised" by police and praised officers for their actions.

Paris has been under higher security in recent years after a string of deadly Islamic extremist attacks. </s> Paris: French police detained a man who wounded seven people in a knife attack in central Paris late on Sunday, police and judicial sources said on Monday, adding there was no initial indication the incident was linked to terrorism.

The attacker, who one police source said was from Afghanistan, stabbed tourists and passersby along the Bassin de la Villette, a popular outdoor canal area in the north-east of Paris where many people gather on warm evenings.

Among those stabbed were two British tourists, a judicial source said. They and two others remain in hospital with severe wounds, although they are not thought to be life-threatening.

Witnesses cited by French media said a group of men playing boules threw heavy metal balls that are used in the popular game at the attacker, with one hitting him on the head and stalling him.

Thierry, a witness quoted on BFM TV, said a group of people then assailed the attacker. </s> CNN — One person is dead and eight others were wounded during a Saturday night knife attack in Paris, CNN affiliate BFM-TV reported.

France’s Interior Ministry tweeted that the attacker was neutralized by police. It was unclear whether the deceased person reported by BFM was the attacker.

Police have said the situation is under control.

BFM also said there is no known motivation for the attack at this time.

Developing story – more to come </s> A knife-wielding attacker has killed one person and injured four in the centre of Paris before being killed by police, in what is being treated as a terror attack.

French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted his praise for police who "neutralised the terrorist" and his thoughts for the victims.

Mr Macron said: "France is once again paying the price of blood, but will not cede an inch to enemies of freedom."

Counter terrorism authorities are leading the investigation into the attack.

The Islamic State group's news agency claims that a man who stabbed five people in Paris was a "soldier" of the extremist movement.

The Aamaq news agency said in a statement early on Sunday that the assailant carried out the Saturday night attack in response to the Islamic State group's calls for supporters to target members of the US-led military coalition squeezing the extremists out of Iraq and Syria.

Paris police tweeted that the attack happened in the 2nd arrondissement or district of the French capital.

Police said the person armed with the knife targeted five people, killing one and seriously injuring two and lightly injuring the other two.

They said the attacker died.

Interior minister Gerard Collomb said the alleged attacker was "neutralised" by police and praised officers for their actions

Paris has been under higher security in recent years after a string of deadly Islamic extremist attacks. </s> PARIS: French police detained a man who wounded seven people in a knife attack in central Paris late on Sunday, police and judicial sources said on Monday, adding there was no initial indication the incident was linked to terrorism.

The attacker, who one police source said was from Afghanistan, stabbed tourists and passersby along the Bassin de la Villette, a popular outdoor canal area in the northeast of Paris where many people gather on warm evenings.

ALSO READ | At least seven people wounded in Paris knife attack; suspect arrested

Among those stabbed were two British tourists, a judicial source said.

They and two others remain in hospital with severe wounds, although they are not thought to be life-threatening.

Witnesses cited by French media said a group of men playing boules threw heavy metal balls that are used in the popular game at the attacker, with one hitting him on the head and stalling him.

Thierry, a witness quoted on BFM TV, said a group of people then assailed the attacker.

"Someone with a wooden stick smashed him across the knees and he fell to the ground," he said.

"Loads of people arrived, some were saying 'kill him' but one guy who was pinning him down said 'no, the last thing we must do is kill him.

'" Police and ambulance crews arrived on the scene shortly afterwards, witnesses said, and the man was taken into custody.

While the motives for the attack remain unclear, a judicial source said it did not appear to be akin to other attacks carried out by Muslim militants in Paris in recent years.

"Police didn't find any initial indication the attack was linked to terrorism," the source said.

"But the anti-terrorism prosecutor's office is following how the investigation proceeds closely.

" Paris has suffered a number of militant attacks since November 2015, when a series of coordinated strikes by Islamist gunmen and suicide bombers killed 129 people in the capital, an assault planned by the Islamic State and its adherents.
One person is killed and four wounded in a knife attack in Paris, France. The attacker is killed by police.