Police in Paris shoot man with hammer attacking officer

News reports out of Europe said police in Paris have shot and wounded a man who attacked an officer near Notre Dame Cathedral.

BREAKING: Paris police say officer shot and injured an attacker near Notre Dame cathedral.

— The Associated Press (@AP) June 6, 2017

An officer at the scene said the man attacked police with hammer as they patrolled the church, a site popular with tourists.

Britain’s Sky News reported a witness said the suspect was on the ground after hitting the police officer with a hammer.

Other officers shot the suspect.

Heavy police presence near Notre Dame Cathedral as Paris police warn the public to stay away due to incident https://t.co/hS67w3Dhz4 pic.twitter.com/RkZTTgCVH0

— ABC News (@ABC) June 6, 2017

France’s Le Monde newspaper reported the anti-terrorism unit had immediately opened an investigation.

Après l’agression d’un policier sur le parvis de #NotreDame de Paris, le parquet antiterroriste ouvre une enquête https://t.co/iAvwSCLnUU

— Le Monde (@lemondefr) June 6, 2017

Lawrence Langner, a 73-year-old American visiting the neighborhood just across the Seine River from the cathedral, told The Associated Press that he heard a commotion and two detonations like gunshots.

Locked inside #notre dame cathedral in #paris while police investigate attack outside against a policeman. All calm pic.twitter.com/Z4B8wUzPTV

— Nancy Soderberg (@nancysoderberg) June 6, 2017

A large number of police cars filled the area on Ile de Cite in the center of Paris.

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

In April, a man jumped out of a car on the Champs-Elysees and fired on police, killing one, wounding two more and a woman tourist. Authorities shot the suspect dead.

The heavily-attended French Open is underway nearby at Roland Garros Stadium. The sports venue is less than 10 minutes from the famed church.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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