Louvre Paris Knife Attack Live Updates: Possible Terrorist Attack Foiled After Attacker Shot After Charging Soldier With Knife While Shouting Allahu Akbar

UPDATE: 7:29 a.m. EST — French President Francois Hollande issued a statement via Twitter on the terrorist incident at the Louvre museum Friday morning, where a suspected armed terrorist was shot after he charged at a soldier stationed at the museum premises.

Hollande tweeted: "I salute the courage and determination demonstrated the military, this morning, at the Carrousel du Louvre."

A Twitter user identified as Stephane Kovacs, a reporter with Le Figaro, posted an unverified picture that is believed to have been clicked by a Chinese tourist. The image shows an image of the attacker.

UPDATE: 6:26 a.m. EST — The Paris prosecutor has reportedly opened an investigation into the incident. Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, while speaking live on French TV said that the area around Louvre has been secured and visitors have been evacuated. She also released an official statement about the attack on Twitter.

UPDATE: 6:04 a.m. EST — French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve and Interior Minister Bruno Le Roux have issued a joint statement regarding the attack near the Louvre museum. In the statement, they admired "the coolness and professionalism of the soldiers and police officers who were able to immediately neutralize the armed attacker in order to protect all staff and visitors present."

The ministers also "wished a speedy recovery to the wounded soldier and reminded us that the mobilization of all the security forces is to protect our fellow citizens and those who frequent our country."

The Ministry of the Interior has also confirmed that a woman was arrested at the scene. However, it is not clear what role, if any, she played in the attack, the ministry said while emphasizing that it is prudent to be "cautious" about her level of involvement, the Local reported.

Hector Clark, who was locked inside the museum with other tourists, told the Local: "It was intense and everyone was scared at first because the situation was unclear but people settled down after we heard from the head of security that it was safe ... we got evacuated to the top floor, everything was calm and well handled, we have been up here for an hour or so but we are being allowed to leave now. ... The situation is stable. We are allowed out in small groups. We are now just grateful to leave."

Original story:

A suspected terrorist tried to attack a French soldier stationed as a guard at the Louvre Museum in Paris with a knife Friday morning, media reports said. The attacker shouted "Allahu Akbar," God is great in Arabic, while shooting at the guard, police said.

French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said that the attack was "clearly of a terrorist nature."

According to the Daily Mail, which cited a police source, the incident occurred near the Carrousel du Louvre shopping center at around 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. EST).

The attacker, who is believed to have been attempting to enter the museum's underground shop, was seriously injured afterward. Police said that the suspect was shot in the stomach as opposed to the legs, as was reported earlier, the Local reported. He was rushed to the Georges Pompidou hospital.

Authorities responded by evacuating people from the museum. BBC reported that a massive security operation is underway and the interior ministry has described the situation as "serious." Authorities have advised the public to await further instructions and in the meantime, refrain from spreading any false information.

"He was carrying a suitcase and was refused access," said a police source at the scene, according to the Mirror. "The man immediately withdrew a knife, and attacked. ... It was at this moment that a soldier used his weapon to disable the men, who was wounded. ... The area has been evacuated."

Conflicting reports gave varying accounts about the attacker. One suggested that the attacker was carrying one or two suitcases, another suggested that the suspect was carrying a rucksack and a machete. Explosives experts were reportedly deployed on the scene to check the backpack worn by the attacker and to survey the area.

However, a French police spokesman confirmed that the suspect was not carrying any explosives.

“Four armed guards then sprinted around the grounds outside of the pyramid entrance looking for something,” an American tourist visiting the Louvre described the incident on Twitter, according to the Independent.

This is a developing story.