Four dead in shootout in Roma camp in France Published duration 25 August 2015

image copyright AFP image caption Police blocked roads in the area where the shooting took place

Four people have been killed in a shootout at a Roma camp in north-eastern France, police say.

Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve told reporters those killed "in cold blood" included a six-month-old baby, a man and a woman.

Reports said a police officer died from his wounds shortly after the incident. Another policeman was injured.

The violence took place in the northern town of Roye, about 110km (70 miles) north of Paris.

It is unclear what provoked the incident.

Witnesses told the AFP news agency that a fight broke out in the camp and one of the men involved began shooting when police arrived at the scene.

The gunman was said to be in a serious condition after being shot by police.

The local Courrier Picard newspaper reported that security forces had sealed off the area.

President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister Manuel Valls expressed shock over the incident.

"My thoughts are with the families, with the victims and the policeman killed in the service of France," Mr Valls tweeted (in French).

In a statement, Mr Hollande hailed the "courage and commitment" of the police officers who responded to the incident.