The man believed to be responsible for Thursday’s terror attack in Paris was previously investigated for terrorism threats and jailed for shooting police officers, it has been confirmed.

Paris prosecutor Francois Molins officially named Karim Cheurfi, 39, as the perpetrator of the Champs-Elysees attack during a press conference on Friday.

Cheurfi lived with his family in the suburb of Chelles, where his home has been shut off by counter-terror investigators. A hunting licence application, a sawn-off shotgun and a rifle butt were among a number of possessions seized from the property by police, according to local media.

Three of his relatives were detained in the operation, although police stressed the move was standard procedure for questioning.

Cheurfi was previously jailed for attempted murders that saw him shoot two police officers – one during a car chase in 2001 and a second days later when he shot an officer after seizing his gun in custody, Le Parisien reported.

At a trial in 2003, he was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment and it was unclear when he was released.

He was also arrested in February as part of a counter-terror investigation – reportedly for threatening police officers – but was released by the courts the following day due to insufficient evidence.

In January, he reportedly bought two hunting knives, a GoPro and a Scream mask, explaining to police when questioned that the knives were for fishing and the mask was for a carnival.

Police officers search Cheurfi’s family home in the Parisian suburb of Chelles (AFP/Getty) (AFP/Getty Images)

Pierre-Henry Brandet, a spokesperson for the French interior ministry, described Cheurfi as an “individual known by the judiciary and police services – a dangerous individual”.

Jan Jambon, the Belgian interior minister, confirmed he was a French national, adding: “He is definitely not a Belgian – could he have had links with Belgians? That is part of the investigation.”

Cheurfi was shot dead at the scene, and an alert was later issued by Belgian security services for a second suspect.

He presented himself at a police station in Antwerp but was found not to be linked to the case, prosecutors said.

Francois Hollande chaired a meeting of the national defence council early on Friday morning, just two days before voting to elect his successor begins.

Speaking afterwards, Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve extended a “solemn tribute” to the police and military and said security measures were in place under France’s extended state of emergency.

One police officer dead after shooting near Champs Elysees

“Barbarity and cowardice struck Paris last night, as they also recently struck elsewhere in Europe – in Berlin, Stockholm, in London,” he added.

“The whole of Europe is targeted because it represents the values and ideals of peace.”

Mr Cazeneuve called for French citizens “not to succumb to fear”, saying that more than 50,000 police would be protecting Sunday’s vote, with an additional 7,000 soldiers on patrol and intelligence services working “in the shadows”.

Isis claimed responsibility for Thursday night’s attack, saying it was carried out by an “Islamic State fighter” given the war name Abu Yusuf al-Baljiki, indicating he had links to Belgium.

The speed of the claim and the fact the attacker was identified suggests he was in contact with the group and informed militants of his plan in advance.

War names were previously used by Isis to identify the jihadis who carried out the Paris and Brussels attacks, which were coordinated with commanders in Syria

Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees Show all 23 1 /23 Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees Police officers secure the area after a gunman opened fire on Champs Elysees. One police officer has been killed, and a second injured by a gunman on The Champs Elysees Getty Images Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees Police officers block the access of a street near the Champs Elysees in Paris after a shooting in which one police officer was killed and another wounded. The attacker was killed in the incident on the world famous boulevard that is popular with tourists Getty Images Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees Police officers control passersby near the Champs Elysees in Paris after a shooting. One police officer was killed and another wounded today in a shooting on Paris's Champs Elysees, police said just days ahead of France's presidential election. The attacker was killed in the incident on the world famous boulevard that is popular with tourists. Getty Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees People run away after a shooting at the Champs Elysees in Paris Getty Images Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees French people hold their hands in the air after a shooting in which a police officer was killed along with the attacker and another police officer wounded in an attack on the Champs Elysees in Paris EPA Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees Bystanders are frisked by police officers near the Champs Elysees avenue in Paris, France, after a fatal shooting in which a police officer was killed along with an attacker AP Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees People hold their hands up as they walk towards police officers before being controlled near the site of a shooting at the Champs Elysees in Paris. France's interior ministry said the attacker was killed after opening fire on police in the early evening on the world-famous boulevard Getty Images Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees Police look through binoculars as officers secure the area after a gunman opened fire on Champs Elysees Getty Images Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees A tourist is blocked by French soldiers next to the Champs Elysee Avenue during ongoing police operations after a shooting in which two police officers were killed along with their attacker and another police officer wounded in a terror attack near the Champs Elysees in Paris, France EPA Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees A tourist is blocked by French soldiers next to the Champs Elysee Avenue during ongoing police operations after a shooting in which two police officers were killed along with their attacker and another police officer wounded in a terror attack near the Champs Elysees in Paris, France EPA Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees French Police officers, after a shooting in which two police officer were killed along with their attacker and another police officer wounded in an attack near the Champs Elysees in Paris, France EPA Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees Forensic experts and police officers examine evidence from a police van on the Champs Elysees in Paris, France, after a fatal shooting in which a police officer was killed along with an attacker AP Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees Police investigators inspect the car used by the attacker on the Champs Elysees Avenue after a policeman was killed and two others were wounded in a shooting incident in Paris, France Reuters Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees A French soldier patrols on the Champs Elysees in Paris after a shooting. One police officer was killed and another wounded today in a shooting on Paris's Champs Elysees, police said just days ahead of France's presidential election. France's interior ministry said the attacker was killed in the incident on the world famous boulevard that is popular with tourists Getty Images Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees Police officers patrol near the site of a shooting at the Champs Elysees in Paris Getty Images Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees French military secure the area after a gunman opened fire on Champs Elysees Getty Images Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees French military secure the area after a gunman opened fire on Champs Elysees Getty Images Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees Police secure the area after a gunman opened fire on Champs Elysees in Paris, France Getty Images Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees One police officer has been killed, and a second injured by a gunman on The Champs Elysees Getty Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees Police officers secure the area after a gunman opened fire on Champs Elysees Getty Images Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees Police secure the area after a gunman opened fire on Champs Elysees. Getty Images Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, flanked by Interior Minister Mathias Fekl and Justice Minister Jean-Jacques Urvoas, speaks to the media outside the Elysee Palace after a defense council meeting in Paris, France EPA Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees A damaged window is pictured on the Champs Elysees boulevard in Paris AP

The attack came just days before the French presidential election, following an operation to foil an “imminent” Isis bombing plot that was in an advanced stage of preparation.

Witnesses said a man pulled up in a car behind a police van and opened fire with a Kalashnikov outside a Marks & Spencer’s department store on the famous Champs-Elysees.

One officer was killed and two more injured, as well as a German woman who suffered injuries to her foot.

One of the officers underwent emergency surgery overnight, but an interior ministry official said both injured officers were now “out of danger”.