ALAIN JOCARD/AFP/Getty Images(PARIS) — A French soldier on duty at the Carrousel du Louvre shopping mall in Paris opened fire Friday morning on a man who attempted to attack him with a knife, ABC News has learned.
The attacked was seriously injured, and the soldier was hit on the arm.
France’s Ministry of the Interior tweeted in French that a “serious” security incident occurred near the Louvre Museum.
Evénement grave de #sécurité publique en cours à #Paris quartier du #Louvre, priorité à l’intervention des forces de sécurité et de secours pic.twitter.com/PxTLacJk7a
— Ministère Intérieur (@Place_Beauvau) February 3, 2017
The area surrounding the Louvre is being evacuated.
Something is going down at The #Louvre 30 National Police vehicles with guns drawn pic.twitter.com/kpLTCtVdZN
— VoiceB0xx (@voiceb0xx) February 3, 2017
A photo posted to Twitter (below) shows how traffic on Rue de Rivoli was brought to a standstill following the attack.
Quand la rue de Rivoli est fermée après attaque d’un militaire. #Paris #Rivoli pic.twitter.com/lNLrDJmohq
— Maxime Signoret (@MaximeSignoret) February 3, 2017
As of 10:22 a.m. local time, Paris transit officials tweeted that the Palais Royal Louvre Museum subway stop was closed due to a “security measure.”
10:22, Par mesure de sécurité, Palais Royal Musée du Louvre fermée au public sur la #Ligne7.Les trains passent sans marquer l’arrêt #RATP
— Ligne 7 RATP (@Ligne7_RATP) February 3, 2017
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