French soldiers have shot dead a man at Paris Orly Airport after he tried to seize a weapon from one of them. An evacuation of the terminal was ordered after the incident.
The National Police have confirmed on Twitter that a special operation is underway and bomb disposal units have been sent to the site.
WATCH LIVE FEED FROM ORLY AIRPORT
According to a preliminary report from BFM TV, an unidentified man tried to seize a firearm from a French soldier at the airport and shots were fired by the French military in the ensuing altercation.
The Interior Ministry confirmed the man was shot dead after approaching a soldier.
“We confirm that the man, who tried to seize a weapon from a soldier, has been neutralized,” the national police also told RT, adding that it would not disclose any detail immediately.
It is not clear when the suspect died as some reports also stated he was apprehended.
The man reportedly acted alone.
[#Orly] On going police operation. Please respect the safety perimeter and avoid the airport area.
— Police Nationale (@PoliceNationale) March 18, 2017
Some tweets also reported a hostage situation, but this was not confirmed.
It has also been reported that passengers on arriving planes are being prevented from disembarking.
🔴 Alerte #Orly Sud🇫🇷
Une fusillade , un individu abattu il essayé de s’emparer de l’arme d’un militaire
Orly Sud c’est ça ,mes photos : pic.twitter.com/0E10jDkkfa
— Français du Jura (@fr_souche_jura) March 18, 2017
Located 13 km south of Paris, Orly Airport was the French capital’s primary airline hub before the opening of Charles de Gaulle Airport, and continues to serve some 30 million passengers annually.
It remains France’s busiest in terms of domestic flights.
Le raid a évacué Orly sud. La foule regroupée sur le parking taxi #Orly
— ismael (@idembele) March 18, 2017
Prise d’otage à Orly Sud, opération policière en cours, l’aéroport évacué !
— Jean-Philippe montel (@jpmontel) March 18, 2017
