Paris police shoot and kill two in car driven at speed towards officers

Incident took place on the Pont Neuf only hours after French President Emmanuel Macron won a second term

French police forensic officers inspect the scene of a shooting on the Pont Neuf bridge in Paris, France. Reuters

Police in central Paris shot and killed two people inside a car that was being driven towards them.

The car had not stopped at a police checkpoint as it was driven on the Pont Neuf — the oldest bridge in Paris — shortly after midnight.

Officers opened fire on the vehicle as it sped in their direction, a police source told AFP. A third person in the car was injured.

The incident happened only hours after French President Emmanuel Macron won a second term.

A large police contingent descended upon the scene in the heart of the capital, where white sheets covered the bodies and a Volkswagen sedan could be seen bisecting traffic lanes, AFP reported.

Less than two kilometres away, French President Emmanuel Macron was celebrating his victory over far-right rival Marine Le Pen with a crowd of supporters at the Champ de Mars park.

His win closed out a tense contest that saw the French far right come the closest it ever has to winning the presidency.

No link has been established between the bridge incident and the election night events.

An Egyptian tourist, who gave his name as El Sammak, said he was near the incident on the terrace of the White Horse Hotel overlooking the Seine when he heard the shooting.

"I heard four bullets [being fired]," he told AFP. "When I looked, I saw a man running 10 or 15 metres. Then he collapsed. Apparently, he was not the driver but a passenger."

An investigation has been launched for "attempted voluntary manslaughter on persons in charge of public authority".

The Paris public prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, arrived at about 1.30am.

France's police oversight body, the General Inspectorate of the National Police, is also expected to be deployed, as is typical following an officer's use of a firearm.