Paris: Police Prevented Armed Attack

A man armed with a machete attacked and lightly wounded a soldier in the center of Paris near the Louvre Museum. He was seriously injured after another soldier shot him, and French authorities have launched an investigation into the attack, agencies report, Patria conveys.  

There is no information about the attacker's identity at this time.

French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve described the attack as "of a terrorist nature".

Paris Police Chief Michel Cadot said the attacker had a machete and two backpacks and that, while moving towards the soldiers, he shouted threats and "Allahu Akbar", French media report.

Police believe the attacker acted alone and intended to carry out an attack, and another person was arrested for suspicious behavior, Reuters states.

According to media reports, the attacker was wounded in the stomach after five shots were fired at him.

The French Ministry of Interior announced that nearly 1,000 people were inside the museum at the time of the attack and were kept inside.

Soldiers in uniform with assault rifles regularly patrol the area around the Louvre, one of the main tourist attractions in Paris.