French investigators said a suspect rammed his car loaded with an AK-47, handguns, bottles of gasoline, and explosives into a police van on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, France Monday afternoon.
“Security forces have been targeted in France once again,” Interior Minister Gérard Collomb said, calling the incident an “attempted attack”.
“The car contained weapons, explosives, enough to allow him to blow up this car,” said Collomb.
Two police officials told The Associated Press that a handgun was found on the driver, who they said was badly burned after the vehicle exploded. They spoke on condition of anonymity to reveal details of the incident, the second this year on the city’s most famous avenue, which is popular with tourists.
A witness said the officers at the scene broke the windows of the suspect’s car and pulled the man out of the burning vehicle.
The suspect, who had been flagged by investigators for extremism, has been confirmed dead. No other injuries were reported from the incident.
France has been under a state of emergency since terrorist attacks began in the country in November 2015.
Large explosion and shots fired on Champs Elysee #Paris looks like on person on ground.. everyone told to run.. pic.twitter.com/NTXVDgYS8J
— Andrew Hawley (@aelhawley) June 19, 2017
NEW: Man who crashed into police car in Paris dead; weapons, explosives found in car, French interior minister says https://t.co/RNUEVd1Rdr pic.twitter.com/vTgs0b39e0
— ABC News (@ABC) June 19, 2017
https://twitter.com/PamelaGeller/status/876831004333363200
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