Man shot dead by French police on anniversary of Charlie Hebdo attacks

French police have shot dead a man apparently trying to enter a police station carrying a butcher’s knife and a fake suicide vest on the anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo attacks.

The man was reportedly carrying a piece of paper marked with the ISIL flag and French officials have said he shouted ‘Allahu Akbar!’ (God is Great) before the police shot and killed him.

The timing of the event is significant as it comes exactly a year after two gunmen murdered 17 people in a series of attacks around the Charlie Hebdo magazine offices in 2015.

Bomb disposal teams were brought in as wires were seen hanging from the suspect’s coat, but it was discovered to contain no explosives. The incident is being investigated as a terrorist attack and ‘attempted murder’ on public officials in authority.

The incident took place outside a police station in Goutte d'Or, near Montmartre, and a cordon has been set up around the area, with security boosted at schools and on public transport networks in the city.