A shooting in central Lille has left 'at least three wounded' and sparked fears of a terror attack coming days after a man attacked a policeman at Paris Orly airport.
It is unclear who carried out the attack and whether or not it is still ongoing.
Armed police have sealed off roads into the city centre as they try to contain the situation.
French reports say there were several shots fired near the Porte d'Arras metro station at around 9.50pm.
At least three people were injured, including a 14-year-old.
Those injured received wounds all over their bodies, reports French news site La Voix Du Nord.
The attack, which is now believed to be gang-related sparked fears of a terror attack due to its location close to a metro station.
The identity of the those injured in the attack is unknown.
It comes as France remains in a high state of alert following a string of Islamist terror attacks during the past 12 months.
It comes after it was revealed that the suspected Islamist terrorist gunned down at Paris Orly airport last Saturday originally launched attacks on a police traffic patrol and a packed bar with a pellet gun.
This meant tha t Ziyed Ben Belgacem, a 39-year-old criminal with 15 years in prison behind him , was unable to kill or seriously wound anyone, forcing him to try and steal a soldier’s assault rifle.
He was promptly gunned down in an airport terminal, on the day that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were visiting the French capital.
The revelation follows claims by France’s most senior intelligence chief that would-be jihadists are finding it increasingly difficult to find weapons, ammunition and other explosives.
Ben Belgacem was thought to be high on drugs and alcoholPatrick Calvar, who run the DGSI agency – France’s equivalent of MI5 – told a parliamentary committee last month: "Several incidents show us that the candidates for violent action are numerous but that they face logistical problems, especially in acquiring weapons."
Ben Belgacem was thought to be high on drugs and alcohol when he first pointed the 9mm pellet gun at a policewoman who had stopped his Renault Clio in the northern suburbs of Paris.
A suspected terrorist was arrested in Belgium yesterday after he allegedly tried to drive a car into shoppers on a pedestrianised street - less than 24 hours after the attack in London.
The vehicle was reportedly full of liquid gas, knives and rifles.
Terrified pedestrians had to jump out of the way as the car entered the De Meir shopping street in Antwerp at high speed on Thursday morning.
The suspected driver, who was wearing camouflage, was later arrested by police, local media reported.
The incident was reportedly being investigated as a possible terrorist incident.
Terrified pedestrians had to jump out of the way as the car entered the De Meir shopping street in Antwerp (Photo: Belga) (Photo: @franklyanouk/Twitter)A federal prosecutor said the suspect is a French national who was living in France.
Local media said he was a 39-year-old named Mohamed R.
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