Four Police officers killed in knife attack

One of the most popular tourist in Paris is sealed off after an attacker goes on a knife rampage and is shot dead.

Four police officers have been killed in a knife attack at the police headquarters in Paris, says a union official.

The attacker, who worked in the building, was shot dead at the scene.

It happened at about 1pm local time at the large police building located just across from Notre Dame Cathedral.

Police union official Loic Travers said the attack appeared to have started in an office and continued elsewhere in the compound.

He said the employee believed to be responsible was a 20-year-old administrator in the intelligence unit and had never created any problems before.

Emery Siamandi, another employee, told Associated Press he had heard gunshots and saw two officers come out of an office in tears.

He said a third officer, described as the person who shot the attacker dead, came out on his knees, also in tears.

The neighbourhood was locked down after the attack and the Cite Metro station closed.

The motive is unclear but another police union leader, Jean-Marc Bailleul, described it as a criminal act – a “moment of madness” – rather than terror.