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French soldier opens fire on man outside Louvre in Paris Knife-wielding man shot outside Louvre in 'attack of terrorist nature'
(35 minutes later)
A major security operation is under way near the Louvre museum in Paris after a man attempted a knife attack on soldiers patrolling the area. A major security operation is under way near the Louvre museum in Paris after a man attempted a knife attack on soldiers patrolling the area. The French prime minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, said it appeared to be an “attack of terrorist nature”.
A man carrying a rucksack wounded one soldier with a knife and another in the patrol opened fire. Paris anti-terrorist police are investigating after a man carrying a rucksack wounded one soldier with a knife. Another soldier in the patrol opened fire.
The attempted attack took place in the Carousel du Louvre, a commercial underground shopping centre near the entrance to the Louvre, which is one of the world’s most-visited museums.The attempted attack took place in the Carousel du Louvre, a commercial underground shopping centre near the entrance to the Louvre, which is one of the world’s most-visited museums.
The attack happened at around 10am on a stairway in the shopping centre when the man ran at soldiers with a knife.The attack happened at around 10am on a stairway in the shopping centre when the man ran at soldiers with a knife.
Michel Cadot, the Paris police prefect, said the man headed towards soldiers “armed with a machete”. He said the man had: “shouted threats and ‘Allahu Akbar’”.Michel Cadot, the Paris police prefect, said the man headed towards soldiers “armed with a machete”. He said the man had: “shouted threats and ‘Allahu Akbar’”.
One soldier was slightly wounded and another soldier fired back five shots. The man was wounded, including to the stomach, but he was still alive.One soldier was slightly wounded and another soldier fired back five shots. The man was wounded, including to the stomach, but he was still alive.
Cadot said no explosives had been found in the man’s bag and there was “no threat”.Cadot said no explosives had been found in the man’s bag and there was “no threat”.
Cadot told reporters: “We are dealing with an attack from an individual who was clearly aggressive and represented a direct threat, and whose comments lead us to believe that he wished to carry out a terrorist incident.”
He added: “There was also a second individual who was behaving suspiciously, who has also been detained, but for now there does not appear to be a link between that individual and the attack.”
Soldiers had been patrolling as part of the Operation Sentenelle foot-patrols around French landmarks that have been in place since the attack on the magazine Charlie Hebdo and a Paris kosher supermarket in January 2015.Soldiers had been patrolling as part of the Operation Sentenelle foot-patrols around French landmarks that have been in place since the attack on the magazine Charlie Hebdo and a Paris kosher supermarket in January 2015.
A spokewoman for the Louvre said the museum was “closed for the moment” but would not confirm reports it had been evacuated.A spokewoman for the Louvre said the museum was “closed for the moment” but would not confirm reports it had been evacuated.
The shooting comes with France on its highest state of alert with thousands of troops patrolling the streets following a string of attacks in the last few years.The shooting comes with France on its highest state of alert with thousands of troops patrolling the streets following a string of attacks in the last few years.
The Louvre, a huge former royal palace in the heart of the city is home to the Mona Lisa and other world-famous works of art but also a shopping complex and numerous exhibition spaces.The Louvre, a huge former royal palace in the heart of the city is home to the Mona Lisa and other world-famous works of art but also a shopping complex and numerous exhibition spaces.
The museum was already suffering from a fall in visitor numbers after recent attacks in France.The museum was already suffering from a fall in visitor numbers after recent attacks in France.
Last year, visitor numbers slumped 15% from 2015 to around 7.3 million.Last year, visitor numbers slumped 15% from 2015 to around 7.3 million.