Paris Police Open Fire On Car Near Tour De France Finish Line

Police in Paris opened fire on a car that tried to crash through barricades in a square near where the Tour De France will finish in just a few hours time, according to reports.

A car carrying two people reportedly tried to crash through barriers near the city's Place de la Concorde, where Tour de France riders will pass through just before they cross the finish line for this year's event on the Champs-Elysees. Police opened fire on the vehicle, which sped away, according to a report from the Associated Press.

“Shots were heard just after 8am,” said an eye-witness, according to the UK's Mirror newspaper. “A car seemed to be involved in some kind of accident, and then tried to get through a security barrier.

“Police tried to stop it, but when the driver refused he drove in their direction and then the shots were fired.”

There are conflicting reports about details of the encounter. While the AP put the number of people in the car when it was fired upon at two, French media are reporting that one one person was present in the vehicle.

According to a report in the Telegraph the driver may have been injured, escaped on foot and a police manhunt for him is under way. No police were injured in the incident, and no cyclists were in the vicinity at the time of the shooting.

France has been on high alert after a series of terrorist attacks this year, beginning with the massacre of 12 people at the Paris offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in January.

This is a developing story. Check back for further updates.