Man shot dead after seizing soldier’s gun at Paris’ Orly airport

French Interior Minister Bruno le Roux told on Saturday, said security forces shot dead a man who seized a soldier’s gun at Paris Orly airport in France.

“The man was known to police and intelligence services,’’ the minister told journalists.

A police source described the deceased as a radicalised Muslim but did not identify him by name.

The minister further said a police officer was also injured after being shot during a routine road check in an earlier incident in Stains, North of Paris.

An anti-terrorism prosecutor said investigation had been opened into the matter.

Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet told journalists a bomb sweep took place at the airport to make sure the dead man was not wearing explosive belt, adding that nothing was found.

“The man succeeded in seizing the weapon of a soldier. He was quickly neutralised by the security forces,” Brandet said.

Brandet also said it was not clear if the two incidents were linked.

Report says the incidents come weeks before France holds presidential elections.

In February, a man armed with a machete, attacked soldiers on guard near the Louvre museum in Paris, shouting “God is great” in Arabic.

France has suffered a number of deadly terrorist attacks over the last two years, with attacks in Paris and Nice, amongst others, costing no fewer than 238 people their lives.

“About 3,000 passengers were evacuated from the airport, the second busiest in the country.

“Flights were suspended from both terminals of the airport and some flights were diverted to Charles de Gaulle airport, North of the capital,’’ airport operator ADP said.