THIS is the dramatic moment the machete-wielding Louvre terror suspect is surrounded by four armed French soldiers.

The attacker was blasted five times at the iconic Paris gallery this morning when he yelled "Allahu Akbar" while brandishing a machete and two knives.

34 The terror suspect lies wounded on the ground after being shot when he attacked four soldiers

34 The terror suspect is pictured lying on the floor, guarded by soldiers Credit: AP:Associated Press

34 An unidentified person is taken away by ambulance at the scene Credit: AP:Associated Press

34 A machete-wielding terror suspect rampaged through the Louvre and attacked soldiers on patrol

34 A soldier blasted a knife-wielding attacker in the stomach five times at the Louvre Credit: Reuters

34 Armed police swooped on the Louvre after a soldier reportedly opened fire on a knifeman with a suitcase Credit: Getty Images

34 Rescue workers were seen carrying out a stretcher Credit: AP:Associated Press

French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has called the attack "terrorist in nature", according to reports.

AFP has since reported a police raid on a building in the French capital linked to the attack.

Unconfirmed reports from local media in Paris suggest the man was a 25-year-old Egyptian.

Dramatic pictures have emerged of the moment he was swooped on by four soldiers after he rampaged through the museum's underground shopping centre when he was challenged to open his bag.

The terror suspect was left critically injured after being blasted in the stomach and legs five times by one guard at around 11am this morning local time.

34 Emergency services are on the scene following the suspected terror attack Credit: AP:Associated Press

34 Police have cordoned off the area as they search the man's suitcase Credit: Getty Images

34 Terrified tourists were locked inside the Louvre as the attack took place Credit: @ulywang

The head of Paris police has confirmed that a paratrooper was "lightly wounded" in the suspected terror attack.

A second soldier then unloaded several rounds into the attacker's torso and legs.

French newspaper Le Parisien has since reported that police found paint bombs in the attacker's backpack.

According to the Guardian, the city's police chief Michel Cadot said the attacker: "shouted threats and 'Allahu Akbar'."

He added: "We are dealing with an attack from an individual who was clearly aggressive and represented a direct threat, and whose comments lead us to believe that he wished to carry out a terrorist incident."

34 The attacker had tried to enter the shop in the Carrousel du Louvre

34 Paris police believe the attack might have been terror related Credit: AP:Associated Press

34 The suspect was brandishing two machetes Credit: AP:Associated Press

34 He was also wearing two backpacks, which were not found to be carrying explosives Credit: Reuters

34 The attacker was shot by the soldier five times in the stomach Credit: Getty Images

34 There is a heavy police presence in Paris following the incident this morning

34 The attacker had brandished a machete a group of four soldiers Credit: AP:Associated Press

34 He has been taken to hospital in a critical condition Credit: Reuters

34 The city was cordoned off by police during the terror Credit: EPA

The attacker, who police believe was acting alone, was said to be carrying two knives including a machete when he was gunned down.

He has been rushed to the Georges-Pompidou hospital, where his intensive care unit is under armed guard.

No information about his background has been released yet.

A new radical Islamic terrorist has just attacked in Louvre Museum in Paris. Tourists were locked down. France on edge again. GET SMART U.S. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 3, 2017

US President Donald Trump tweeted: "A new radical Islamic terrorist has just attacked in Louvre Museum in Paris.

"Tourists were locked down. France on edge again. GET SMART U.S."

French premier Francois Hollande hailed the "courage and determination" of France's security forces in the face of "savage aggression".

A second man was detained for acting suspiciously but it is not known if he is linked to the attack.

Are you currently at the Louvre? Email holly.christodoulou@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4383

The police chief said the man attacked soldiers when they told him he could not enter the Carrousel du Louvre - an underground shopping mall beneath the gallery - with his bags.

Workers are now being allowed to return to the shopping mall beneath the Louvre and roadblocks are being cleared.

Police shut the metro station as bomb disposal teams checked the bags the assailant was carrying.

They have confirmed no explosives were but a number of knives and machetes were discovered.

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He had entered the Carousel via the Rue de Rivoli, which has now been shut down, along with other nearby roads as armed police patrol the city.

French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has described the attack at the Louvre museum in Paris as "terrorist in nature".

34 The attackers is in a critical condition, while the soldier was lightly injured Credit: Reuters

34 A second man was detained but the two are not believed to be linked Credit: AP:Associated Press

Nearby shopping centres were evacuated, while terrified tourists who were already at the Louvre have been kept in the basement.

Around 1,000 people were inside the world famous gallery, which is home to the Mona Lisa.

Speaking to the Sun Online, Georgia University student Taylor Walstrum said: "There's about 150 of us in this room but I think there's more elsewhere.

"We're in an lower room with no open view windows. We have been told the room is secure.

"It's me and four other university of Georgia students in here as a group.

"We didn't hear any gunfire but there was lots of shouting from staff.

"People are restless - lots of pacing.

"The security has checked bags. Everyone is sitting around trying to contact relatives and stay updated."

34 Tourists have been left in the dark over the attack and are holed up in the basement and halls of the Louvre Credit: @ulywang

34 Tourists trapped in the Louvre have been posting on social media from inside the gallery Credit: @mayaffff

Students from Godalming College in Surrey were among those trapped at the Louvre during the horror.

Staff at the sixth-form college informed parents in a letter that security advice was being followed.

It said: "We wanted to let you know that we have been in contact with the Trip Leaders and that all the students and staff are together, safe, and are following advice from security services.

"They are being kept all together in an area of the museum at the moment.

"From what we are able to glean at this early stage it appears to be an isolated incident."

34 The knifeman had rampaged through the Carrousel du Louvre Credit: AP:Associated Press

34 Sixth-form students from Godalming College in Surrey were among those caught up in the carnage Credit: AP:Associated Press

John O'Shea, 52, from Canada is currently trapped in the Louvre with his wife and young son. He said: "We’ve been told to leave – it’s very frightening.

"Everybody is talking terrorism, but we really don’t know what’s going on. Apparently a number of shots were fired."

The French Interior Ministry has confirmed a "grave" serious security incident is currently underway.

The Louvre said it would re-open its doors to the public tomorrow.

34 A heavy police presence is still in Paris, where roads have been shut Credit: AP:Associated Press

34 The city has been on a high terror alert following a number of attacks by Islamic State extremists Credit: Reuters

34 The French Interior Ministry said a "grave security event" was underway Credit: AP:Associated Press

34 The suspected terrorist had entered the Carousel via the Rue de Rivoli Credit: AP:Associated Press

A shop worker said: "We heard gunfire and reacted immediately – shutting down the grills in front of the shop, and retreating into the back."

The 19-year-old, who didn't want to be named, added: "Once the all-clear was given by the police we got out as quickly as possible. I’m on my way home.

"You always hear about the possibility of terrorism, especially in the area around the Louvre, but this was the real thing."

Restaurant worker Sanae Hadraoui, 32, was waiting for breakfast at the Louvre's restaurant complex when she heard the first gunshot, followed by another and then a couple more.

"I hear a shot. Then a second shot. Then maybe two more. I hear people screaming, "Evacuate! Evacuate!"

"They told us to evacuate. I told my colleagues at the McDonalds. We went downstairs and then took the emergency exit."

34 Workers at the Louvre have started to make their way back inside and roadblocks are being cleared Credit: Getty Images

34 The metro station was closed as police investigated the knifeman's bags Credit: AP:Associated Press

34 Around 1,000 people were at the Louvre at the time of the attack Credit: AP:Associated Press

34 Tourists were kept inside the Louvre while the incident was ongoing Credit: Twitter via Storyful

34 France is under a State of Emergency following a spate of terror attacks Credit: Reuters

Soldiers carry out patrols at the historic museum as part of France's ongoing State of Emergency.

They were placed on high terror alert following murderous attacks by Islamic State operatives in 2015.

On November 13, 2015, 130 people were murdered in a single night of violence which included attacks on the Stade de France, the Bataclan concert venue and cafés and restaurants.

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