Notre Dame attacker shouted ‘this is for Syria’ before hitting police officer with hammer

A man armed with a hammer shouted “this is for Syria” before attacking police officers outside France’s Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, the Interior Minister says.

Key points:

• Counterterrorism investigation into the incident has begun
• Notre Dam cathedral was locked down with hundreds inside
• The cathedral is one of France’s most popular tourist sites

The attacker injured one officer before he was shot and injured by other officers.

Hundreds of people were blocked inside the iconic 12th-century church, one of France’s most famous tourist sites, while others fled in panic from the sprawling esplanade outside as police combed the area in the centre of the French capital.

Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said preliminary information indicated the attacker had acted alone.

“A person came up behind the police officers, armed with a hammer, and started to hit the police officer,” Mr Collomb said.

MORE: Notre Dame attacker shouted ‘this is for Syria’ before hitting police officer with hammer – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)