Four police officers killed in Paris stabbing, attacker shot dead

A man wielding a knife has stabbed and killed four officers at the police headquarters in the heart of central Paris, before being shot dead.

The premises were cordoned off on Thursday after the lunchtime attack in the historic center of Paris, usually thronged with tourists, and a dozen emergency vehicles were at the scene, AFP journalists reported. 

At least one metro station in the vicinity of the building, which is close to Notre-Dame cathedral and other major tourist attractions, was closed.

Sources said the attacker was shot dead by police in the courtyard of the building, where he was employed.

The man worked in an administrative capacity, but it was not immediately clear what his precise work role was.

An emergency message was broadcast over loudspeakers at the court of justice next door, announcing "an attack" at the police headquarters and stating the area was "under surveillance."

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner, who was due to visit Turkey later on Thursday, has postponed his trip to visit the scene of the attack.

Investigators suspect a workplace dispute sparked the deadliest attack on police in France in years, sources said, but there were no immediate further details.

The Paris prosecutor is at the scene, but anti-terror agencies have not been involved at this stage.

SS