Paris stabbing spree: Attacker fatally shot in Villejuif with one victim dead and others injured

A man has been fatally shot by police after he stabbed one victim to death and injured several people in a French park.

The assailant ran from the scene and was shot near a supermarket in Villejuif, a southern suburb of the capital, at around 2pm local time (1pm UK time).

Police fired at least three shots according to local media.

A local mayor LAO said one person was killed and several injured in the attack, but police could not immediately confirm the death or the number of injured people.

French police secure an area in Villejuif near Paris after an attacker was shot dead by officers (REUTERS)

The mayor, Vincent Jeanbrun, told broadcaster BFM-TV that the attacker assaulted people in a park in Villejuif, then fled to a shopping centre in his area, L’Hay-les-Roses, and was shot by police there.

Police union official Yves Lefebvre said officers fired repeatedly because they feared the man was wearing an explosive belt and might blow himself up.

Police shot dead a knife-wielding man who killed one person and injured others (AFP via Getty Images)

Interior Ministry officials and many police were on the scene.

Paris' police prefecture tweeted: "Parc des Hauts de Bruyères. Ongoing intervention by the police. Avoid the area."