PARIS ATTACK: One dead and two seriously wounded in knife attack terror in Trappes

The perpetrator, who reportedly shouted the Arabic phrase “Allahu akbar” (“God is greatest”), was then shot dead by police.

His stabbing spree took place on Rue Camille-Claudel at around 10am local time (9am UK time), according to reports.

The Islamic State (ISIS) terror group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying one of its “fighters” had carried out the assault.

Police confirmed an operation was underway in Trappes, with a security perimeter in place around the scene of the attack.

Images shared on social media showed armed police wearing balaclavas.

The attacker, said to be in his 30s, was reportedly known to France’s security services since 2016.

Writing on Twitter, France’s Interior Minister Gerard Collomb paid tribute to the victims and said the incident was a “tragedy”.

He said: “The individual has been neutralised. My first thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones.

“I want to salute the actions and the exemplary mobilisation of our police forces. They are already investigating the circumstances of this tragedy.”

A security source said: “The incident took place soon after 10am. A man attacked passers-by in Rue Camille Claudel in Trappes.

“He disappeared into a house when police arrived at the scene, and when he came out he was shot.”

French police urged locals to stay away from the security cordon “so as not to disturb the work of policemen”.

Trappes is an underprivileged town situated in an overall wealthy area 18.6 miles (30km) west of Paris.

Half of its 30,000 inhabitants are under 25 years old and the unemployment rate is close to 20 percent.

Although the motive behind the attack has not been confirmed, France has been rocked by several terror attacks in recent years.

Islamic State jihadists killed 130 people in a series of coordinated terror attacks in the French capital in November 2015.

And 86 people were brutally murdered when an ISIS fanatic drove a lorry through Bastille Day crowds in Nice in July 2016.