The Islamic State on Saturday claimed responsibility for the knife attack in Paris that left one victim dead and at least four injured, according to several news reports.

Amaq news agency, the group's propaganda arm, released a statement describing the attacker as a "soldier of the Islamic State" and claimed the atrocity was in response to its calls to target countries bombing its territories in Syria and Iraq.

French prosecutor Francois Molins said witnesses reported that the suspect shouted “Allah Akbar” during the attack.

"At this stage and on the basis on testimonies describing the attacker shouting 'Allahu Akbar' while attacking passers-by with a knife, as well as the modus operandi, the counter-terror section of the Paris prosecutor's office is investigating," said Molins.

The assailant was shot dead by police.

French President Emmanuel Macron praised officers for “neutralizing the terrorist.” France “will not yield an inch to the enemies of freedom,” Macron said on Twitter.

The country has been on high alert amid a series of attacks, commissioned or inspired by the Islamic State militant group, over the past three years that has killed dozens of people.

Information from Reuters was used in this report.