Paris on alert as knife-wielding man shot dead in attempted attack

Police in Paris on Thursday shot dead a man attempting to enter a police station wielding a knife and shouting Allahu Akbar.

‘Knifeman’ shot while trying to enter Paris police station https://t.co/OHRr2X764b #gouttedor pic.twitter.com/2F0Y6VbAIi

— euronews (@euronews) January 7, 2016

The man was carrying a mobile phone and sheet of paper with Islamic State flag and claim of responsibility, says Paris prosecutor.

According to police sources, the man was also wearing a fake suicide belt as he attempted to enter the police station in the 18th district at noon.

[LIVE] #Paris: “The man did have a belt, but it was a fake” police union source told Reuters https://t.co/kkKhG0auGn pic.twitter.com/zc6by8MtHS

— euronews (@euronews) January 7, 2016

A huge security operation is underway in the north of the capital, with at least two local schools on lockdown.

The attack happened the same time on January 7, 2015 that two gunmen shot dead cartoonists and others at the satirical magazine’s offices.

[A year ago] 1:33PM – France is in shock: #CharlieHebdo cartoonists Cabu, Wolinski & Charb among the victims. pic.twitter.com/5CQFMnwUbM

— euronews (@euronews) January 7, 2016

France is marking the first anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo killings where a total of 17 people were gunned down by fanatics between January 7-9, 2015, including at a Jewish supermarket.

France one year on from #CharlieHebdo shootings https://t.co/WVkJn8wond pic.twitter.com/rKxD2sDQ5w

— euronews (@euronews) January 7, 2016

In November 2015, suicide bombings and shootings by Islamist extremists left 130 people dead in Paris and many more injured.

Earlier on Thursday, French President Francois Hollande visited the Paris police headquarters where he gave details of planned new security measures and paid tribute to the police, gendarmes and emergency services.

#Paris prosecutors have started an investigation for “attempted murder of a public official” after #Barbes shooting https://t.co/5wbNuKx271

— Thomas Seymat (@tseymat) January 7, 2016