Paris Shootout Leaves Police Officer and Gunman Dead

A gunman jumped out of a car, killed a police officer and wounded two others on the Champs-Élysées in central Paris on Thursday night, French officials said.

The gunman was shot dead by the police as he tried to flee on foot, Pierre-Henry Brandet, a French Interior Ministry spokesman, told the BFMTV news channel.

President François Hollande, addressing the nation from the Élysée presidential palace, not far from where the attack occurred, said that the French authorities were “convinced” that the shooting, which occurred just days before the first round of the French presidential election, pointed to a terrorist act.

And, on Friday, the Islamic State issued a statement claiming responsibility for the attack.

Mr. Brandet said that shortly before 9 p.m. a car pulled up to a police vehicle that was parked on the famous boulevard.

The man opened fire on the police vehicle with an automatic weapon, killing an officer. He then “tried to leave by running away while aiming at, and trying to target, other police officers,” Mr. Brandet said.

“He managed to wound two others and was shot dead by the police forces,” Mr. Brandet added. It was not immediately known if anyone else was in the attacker’s car.

Mr. Hollande said he would convene a national security meeting on Friday morning and that a national tribute would be paid to the slain officer.

“We must all be aware that our security forces do work that is particularly difficult, that they are exposed, as one can see again this evening, and that they have the nation’s full support,” Mr. Hollande said.

Mr. Hollande said that a passer-by had also been wounded in the shooting, but he did not say how badly or provide other details.

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