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PANIC IN PARIS

What happened during the Louvre attack in Paris, where is the museum and what do we know about the shooter?

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A FRENCH soldier opened fire at a suspected terrorist who stormed the Louvre this morning.

The man was blasted five times in the stomach and legs after attempting to attack a soldier with two knives and a machete - what else do we know?

 A French soldier is thought to have opened fire at a knifeman trying to enter the Louvre with a suitcase
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A French soldier is thought to have opened fire at a knifeman trying to enter the Louvre with a suitcaseCredit: Twitter

What happened at the Louvre Museum in Paris?

An armed soldier shot a suspected terrorist who ran through the underground shopping centre brandishing a machete and two knives while wearing two rucksacks.

The attacker screamed "Allahu Akbar" before being blasted in the stomach and legs five times by one guard at around 11am this morning local time

 

The head of Paris police confirmed a soldier - not the one who opened fire - was "slightly wounded" during the altercsation.

The city's police chief Michel Cadot said: "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."

The man is said to have been critically wounded after being gunned down by the soldier.

French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has said the attack was "terrorist in nature".

 

The man had been trying to get into the museum's underground shop with a bag when he was challenged by the soldier.

A heavy police presence is in the French capital and the gallery and nearby shopping centres have all been evacuated.

The French Interior Ministry  confirmed a serious security incident is underway.

Police shut the metro station as bomb disposal teams reportedly checked the man's bags.

 The Louvre is located in central Paris. close to the River Seine
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The Louvre is located in central Paris. close to the River Seine

Where is the Louvre?

The Louvre is in the centre of Paris, close to the bank of the River Seine.

It is located in the 1st arrondissement, close to the Palais Royal.

The world-famous art gallery is home to the Mona Lisa and a popular stop-off for tourists visiting the French capital.

It was the most visited museum in the world last year, with 9.3 million people entering.

What do we know about the Louvre shooter?

A French soldier is thought to have opened fire at a man who tried to enter the gallery with a knife.

Not much else is known about the shooter at this stage, other than he was on-duty at the time.


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