Gunman kills two cops in Paris Attacker also shot dead

PARIS: Two policemen have been shot dead and one other wounded in central Paris, French police say, with their suspected attacker killed by security forces.

The Champs Elysees, where the shooting occurred, was sealed off. A lone gunman opened fire before being killed as he fled the scene, police say, reported BBC news channel.

It happened as presidential candidates made their last pitches in a TV appearance before Sunday's election. An anti-terrorist investigation has been launched. "On the face of it, the officers were deliberately targeted," interior ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet told France's BFMTV news channel.

Because of its worldwide renown and its large number of visitors, the Champs Elysees has long been seen as a potential target, the BBC's Hugh Schofield reports from the French capital.

President Francois Hollande is due to speak after holding a crisis meeting with Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve and Interior Minister Matthias Fekl. A car pulled up alongside a police bus just before 19:00 GMT and a man got out, opening fire with an automatic weapon at the bus, Brandet said.

After killing an officer, he attempted to run away while shooting at other officers, two of whom he injured, the spokesman added. He was then shot dead by security forces. Later, one cop succumbed to his injuries. 

According to BFMTV's sources, the killer was known to the security services and had talked of wanting to kill police officers on the Telegram messaging service. 

The whole of the Champs Elysees has been evacuated and police vehicles are lined up near a point half way up the avenue around the George V metro station. Shots were heard in or near the Marks & Spencer store, provoking a panicked rush away from the scene by tourists and passers-by. 

  Reuters adds: A second policeman has died from wounds received when he was shot by an attacker in central Paris on Thursday evening, a police source said.

Police said a search was underway at the home east of Paris of an attacker who was shot dead after opening fire on police on the Champs-Elysees, killing one police officer immediately and wounding another.