Cops ‘open fire on car that tried to hit them’ in Paris, killing two and leaving one injured

COPS in Paris have opened fire on a vehicle that tried to run them over - killing two and injuring a third, according to local reports.

The incident took place near Pont Neuf at the centre of the French capital on Sunday night.

It is believed the driver of the vehicle and a passenger sitting in the front seat were those who died.

According to local reports, the incident occurred shortly after midnight.

Police fired at the car when it refused to stop at a police checkpoint.

Cops told AFP the car was driving against traffic and sped towards officers.

A witness told newspaper: "A car was parked in the wrong direction along the Vert-Galant square on the Pont Neuf.

"The police approached to control the individuals present in the vehicle by pointing automatic weapons at him.

"The driver rushed off towards the police at full speed. The police fired immediately."

Police have cordoned off the area and launched an investigation into the incident. Reasons for the attack are not known.

Images from the scene show shattered glass on the ground surrounding a dark hatchback and a body covered in a white sheet on the street nearby.

It comes as a crazed knifeman reportedly shouted "we have to kill Macron" as he stabbed two people inside a church on election day yesterday.

A priest, named as Father Christophe, was knifed 20 times and an elderly nun was stabbed in the hand trying to shield him from the frenzied assault at Saint-Pierre-d'Arène church in Nice.

A 31-year-old Frenchman, born in Fréjus, is accused of approaching Father Christophe and unleashing the brutal attack at 10am (local time) on Sunday morning.

The priest was reportedly injured in the chest and legs and is in a critical condition.

A 72-year-old woman, believed to be a nun, received stab wounds to her hands.

The man allegedly suffers from bipolar disorder, according to local reports and official sources. There was no suspicion of a terror motive.

In a separate incident, French police blocked access to a polling station in the 8th district of Paris following the discovery of a potentially dangerous package.

The incidents occurred on the day France went to the polls to elect their next President.

Incumbent Emmanuel Macron, 44, won 58.8 per cent of the vote while his opponent got 41.2 per cent, exit polls show.