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Knife-wielding man attacks soldier at Louvre, terror motives suspected Machete-wielding man attacks soldier at Louvre, terror motives suspected
(35 minutes later)
The Louvre museum in Paris has been cordoned off after a French soldier opened fire on an attacker, wounding him, local media report. The attacker armed with a knife reportedly cried out “Allahu Akbar.” A French soldier opened fire on a machete-wielding man, wounding him, police said. The attacker, now suspected of terror motives, cried out “Allahu Akbar.”
WATCH LIVE: Scene of shooting outside the Louvre MuseumWATCH LIVE: Scene of shooting outside the Louvre Museum
The French Interior Ministry reported that there has been a “grave public security incident” in the vicinity of the Louvre museum. The area has been sealed off. The French Interior Ministry reported that was a “grave public security incident” in the vicinity of the Louvre museum. The area was sealed off.
The attacker tried to assault the soldier with a knife, according to Reuters. The man was also carrying a suitcase and tried to enter the Louvre museum with it through the Carrousel du Louvre area, the agency said citing police sources. The attacker armed with a machete tried to assault a four-man patrol of soldiers at the Carrousel du Louvre area. Earlier reports said he was a wielding a knife and had a suitcase.
The attacker cried out "Allahu Akbar," a French police spokesperson said, adding that no explosives have been found so far. Later police said there were two bags and the man carrying them on his back tried to enter museum shopping area, but was refused.
Police also said that the attacker’s remarks led them to believe that he had intended to carry out a terrorist attack, and was possibly acting alone. The attacker cried out "Allahu Akbar,"  Michel Cadot, the head of the French capital's police force, told reporters, adding that no explosives have been found so far.
"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," Michel Cadot, the head of the French capital's police force, told reporters. The attacker’s remarks led police to believe that he had intended to carry out a terrorist attack. 
A second person has been detained at the scene, though, following suspicious behavior, the head of Paris police added. "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," said Cadot.
Five shots were fired at the attacker, who was injured. It is understood that he sustained injuries to his legs or in the abdomen, but police say they are not life threatening. The attacker is believed to have acted alone. Two machetes were found at the scene, according to AP.
A soldier has been slightly injured in the Louvre attack. French anti-terror police are now looking into the incident, with Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve saying the attack was “clearly of a terrorist nature.”
Five shots were fired at the attacker, who was injured. It is understood that he sustained injuries to his legs or in the abdomen, police say they are quite serious.
The attacker has not been identified yet.
A second person has been detained at the scene following suspicious behavior.
The soldier who had been attacked was slightly injured in the Louvre attack. The fire was opened by another man from the patrol.
The nearby Palais Royal Musee du Louvre metro station has been closed due to the incident, witnesses said on Twitter.The nearby Palais Royal Musee du Louvre metro station has been closed due to the incident, witnesses said on Twitter.
Europe 1 radio says the square in front of Louvre was partially evacuated while bomb disposal officers were sent to the scene. Reports on Twitter also suggest some tourists were led to locked-down halls at the Musee du Louvre. Europe 1 radio says the square in front of Louvre was partially evacuated while bomb disposal officers were sent to the scene.
Louvre officials also closed the museum and kept visitors inside from leaving. There were about 1,000 visitors at the museum at the time of the incident, according to officials.
The Louvre in the center of the French capital is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Paris. Soldiers patrolling the area around the museum are part of Operation Sentinelle, the massive security beef-up measure that followed terror attacks in 2015 and 2016.The Louvre in the center of the French capital is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Paris. Soldiers patrolling the area around the museum are part of Operation Sentinelle, the massive security beef-up measure that followed terror attacks in 2015 and 2016.