Two people have been decapitated and a third person has been killed in a suspected terror attack in the south of France.
The mass stabbing happened inside the Notre-Dame basilica in Nice at around 9am just as mass had just started, with several others injured.
Police are understood to have shot the alleged perpetrator who shouted "Allahu Akbar" as he was arrested and taken to hospital - the Mirror UK reports.
Two victims had been decapitated, it has been confirmed. "Both victims were beheaded," said the police spokesman, pointing to "a terrorist attack".
It was also confirmed that one of the deceased was a church warden.
One person - who described the incident as "very distressing" - heard about seven shots fired and and saw police officers storm the church.
Witnesses on social media also confirmed hearing a number of shots during the police operation.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said a huge police operation is now underway and confirmed he will chair a crisis meeting over the attack.
One woman who was gravely injured, had tried to escape from inside the church and had fled into a bar opposite the building.
Nice's mayor, Christian Estrosi, confirmed that the incident was due to terrorism.
He said: "I am on site with the [police] who arrested the perpetrator of the attack.
"I confirm that everything suggests a terrorist attack in the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Nice."
He added in a follow up tweet: "Nice has paid too heavy a price in the same way as our country in recent years. I call for the unity of the Niçois."
"Our country can no longer be satisfied with the laws of peace to annihilate Islamo-fascism."
France's National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into knife attack.
President Emanuel Macron called the mayor to offer support and confirmed he would travel to the city.
The nationalist French politician Marine Le Pen also spoke of a decapitation having occurred in the attack.
