French special forces RAID vehicle leaves after an assault on June 14, 2016 in Magnanville, 45 kms west of Paris. A man was shot dead during a dramatic police operation in the Paris suburbs late Monday, hours after he had stabbed a police officer to death.

A senior French police officer and his female companion were killed following an attack Monday evening by a knife-wielding man in a distant suburb of Paris, officials said.

The attacker was also killed in the ensuing confrontation with police, while a three-year-old boy was rescued by officers.

The Islamic State's Amaq news agency cited an unnamed "source" as saying an IS fighter carried out the attack, but the extremist jihadist group has not officially claimed responsibility for the attack.

The police commander was stabbed to death outside his home in Magnanville, about 35 miles (55 kilometers) west of Paris, interior minister spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet told reporters at the scene.

The attacker then retreated indoors before elite police commandos stormed the residence. The woman and the attacker were found dead; a little boy was found safe and sound.