Man shot dead in Paris airport after trying to seize soldier’s weapon

Flights between Southampton Airport and Paris Orly Airport have been suspended.

Police say that auto was later found close to the Orly Airport.

The man’s father and brother were being questioned by police Saturday.

French President Francois Hollande said investigators would determine whether the attacker “had a terrorist plot behind him”. “I’ve shot a policeman”.

The investigation has been entrusted to anti-terror prosecutors, meaning that authorities suspect terrorism as a possible motive. “He was quickly neutralized by the security forces”, Brandet said. A 29-year-old Egyptian had attacked the machete of the soldiers, rushing to the patrol shouting “Allah Akbar” (God is the greatest, in Arabic), before being seriously wounded.

The incidents came five weeks before France holds presidential elections in which national security is a key issue.

Paris Orly Airport is France’s second-busiest airport, with global and domestic air traffic.

The soldiers were part of the Sentinelle special forces, an elite military group installed around France to protect sensitive sites after a string of deadly Islamic extremist attacks.

The driver was stopped by officers just before 7am local time, and opened fire while pretending to retrieve his identity papers.

“We ran off, down the staircase”.

The shootings coincide with a visit to Paris from Britain’s Prince William and Princess Kate.

Paris is on high alert after today’s two shootings.

French police forces secure Orly airport, south of Paris, March 18, 2017.

Thousands of travelers were evacuated and at least 15 flights were diverted to the city’s other airport, Charles de Gaulle.

The airport, the second largest serving the French capital, is about 20 miles from the central Paris residence of the British ambassador where the royal couple are staying, the Telegraph report said.