Paris police officials on Tuesday advised people to avoid the area near Notre Dame cathedral after a man reportedly attacked an officer with a hammer, according to Reuters.
The suspect was shot in the thorax when he failed to stop his advance after warnings issued by police in the courtyard at Notre Dame.
[CALLOUT]
CNN's television coverage notes 14 million visitors enjoy the location every year. Understandably, social media abounded with reaction from people:
We were just told that the doors will remain locked until the police tell us otherwise. We have no idea what's happening.
- Matthew CurrieHolmes (@mch2k) June 6, 2017
Everyone is safe! #NotreDamedeParispic.twitter.com/7OmNso737T
- Matthew CurrieHolmes (@mch2k) June 6, 2017
Police asking everyone to raise their hands in the church pic.twitter.com/y5KkyWqdWK
- Matthew CurrieHolmes (@mch2k) June 6, 2017
Notre-Dame: de nombreux effectifs se dirigent vers le lieu pic.twitter.com/FWWAGJzoW0
- David Perrotin (@davidperrotin) June 6, 2017
No motive has yet been reported, but the incident comes just three days after terrorists wreaked havoc at the London Bridge as well as a nearby marketplace on Saturday.
[READMORE]READ MORE: Terror Attacks Impact UK Travel [/READMORE]
It also comes over a month after 39-year-old French citizen Karim Cheurfi was shot and killed by police near Paris' Avenue des Champs-élysées in an attack that left an officer dead and two injured.
As for Tuesday's incident, police officials, according to CNN's TV coverage, stated the situation was quickly under control. CNN is reporting the suspect is possibly an Algerian student and, according to French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb, shouted, "This is for Syria," during the attack.
Ashley Rebbert was nearby Notre Dame and took pictures of the unfolding scene, posting them to Facebook.
Rebbert paints a vivid picture: "From my fourth floor balcony, I watched what we weren't yet sure of unfold. Terror does horrible things, it makes you go to the worst-case scenario each time in order to protect yourself. This time, we presumed the worst and thought a bomb or the kind of violence that took place at London Bridge just a few short days ago, we didn't know.
"From the apartment I heard a shuffle then a gun shot, possibly a second, subsequent screams, and everyone fleeing from the courtyard down the length of the Cathredal's surrounding roads and to cross the bridges to safety. That was all I knew.
"The French police were so quick to respond and mobilize; they covered every square inch of the courtyard and around Notre Dame and eventually we found out that there wasn't a bomb, just what appears to be a lone man wielding a hammer of all things. It goes to show you that around this beautiful Cathedral, where millions have gathered to either attend mass, stare at the architecture, or find a quick shelter from the driving rain while on a free tour, evil things can happen.
"Love does such a better job of driving out hate than responding with additional hate ever will, you need light to expel darkness. This is definitely dark. And though this turned out better than mass bloodshed, emotional damage was still done, seeds of terror planted, and the hundreds of people outside of the cathedral will never be the same.
"As much as I want people to stay safe and avoid certain tourist areas until the tensions calm down, I don't want them to feel they can't return to Notre Dame; I was in there two days ago and felt God's love, I think that's what the rest of us might need too."
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