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French anti-terrorism prosecutors launched a probe today after a suspected suicide attacker drove his car into a police van on the Champs Elysee in Paris and caused a fireball.

Tourists visiting the French capital’s most famous avenue ran away in panic following the drama soon after 3.40pm local time.

A white-coloured Renault Megane was seen targeting a line of police vans which were travelling up the Champs Elysee towards the Arc de Triomphe. No police officers or bystanders were injured.

"There was a sudden impact, and then a fireball," said an investigating source.

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They added: "A gas bomb was in the car.

(Image: Getty Images Europe) (Image: REUTERS) (Image: EPA) (Image: REUTERS)

"The man was very badly injured, and then pulled out of his damaged vehicle.

"He was badly injured in the collision and was taken away. He did not cause any injuries, but the collision was a deliberate act."

France’s Interior Minister Gerard Collomb confirmed that the terrorist was ‘now dead’.

(Image: EPA) (Image: REUTERS)

Visiting the scene of the attack, Mr Collomb said: ‘Again the forces of law and order in France were targeted, this time with an attack on the Champs Elysee against a police patrol’.

The assailant used ‘arms and explosives’, as well as his car, but ‘the individual is now dead,’ said Mr Collomb.

The Minister said the security threat to France remained ‘at its highest level’, and that he would be ensuring that the State of Emergency ‘remains in place permanently for the foreseeable future’.

(Image: @MelissaBellCNN/Twitter)

It gives extra powers to the security services to clamp down on suspected terrorists

Specialist anti-terrorism officers confirmed they had opened an enquiry into the kamikaze attack.

It follows a series of terrorism incidents across France carried out by Islamic State operatives, who have regularly used vehicles as weapons across Europe, including in Britain.

The Champs-Elysees was placed on lockdown in April after a policeman was shot in an attack claimed by ISIS.