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The shooting happened in the French city of Marseille just after five o'clock this evening local time.

The men, armed with the machine guns and wearing hoods, arrived in three vehicles before opening fire on a group of young people.

Shocking footage posted on Twitter shows the men letting off rounds before their car reverses quickly down a residential side street.

About 50 yards down the road the car screeches to a halt and the men get out again, firing shots into the air.

(Image: LAPROVENCE.COM/TWITTER/@DAVIDLAMARS)

(Image: SCREENGRAB)

French news is reporting that the attackers kidnapped a man in broad daylight before fleeing the scene.

A gun battle with police then took place, and in the crossfire, a resident was hit.

His condition is unknown.

(Image: REUTERS)

A second police crew was then blocked off by another vehicle owned by the gunmen, and shots were fired.

Police opened fire, smashing the window of the gunmen's vehicle, who quickly fled the scene.

Police have set up a security perimeter around the crime scene, and armed police and officers from the Marseille Naval Fire Battalion are on the scene.

Cops confirmed that the gunmen are on the run after opening fire near "La Busserine" cultural space in the city.

(Image: TWITTER) (Image: FRANCE3)

A man in his thirties was injured in a fight with the gunmen and rushed to hospital.

Local media reports that the police were responding to the shooting when a dark Renault Megane blocked their path.

Two men armed with a 9mm pistol and a Kalashnikov got out of the vehicle and shot in the air before fleeing the scene.

Police and firefighters have found a 9mm cartridge at the scene, as well as a 7.62 casing which corresponds to the bullets found in a Kalashnikov.