TODAY host Karl Stefanovic was caught up in a terrifying scramble in Paris as sounds of “gunfire” caused a crowd of mourners to flee the site of Friday’s terror attack.

The popular Aussie host was preparing to report live from outside Le Carillion bar, where at least 12 people died after being gunned down, when heavily armed police swarmed the scene and mourners began to flee after hearing a series of loud bangs.

An official said the crowd gathered in the Place de Republique, apparently panicked after hearing firecrackers.

“This is how quickly things can turn on the streets of Paris at the moment,” Stefanovic said after fleeing as screams rang out around him.

A French security official said someone had reached out to police in the plaza out of panic, and when officers arrived with weapons drawn, the crowd dispersed in fear.

SBS reporter Brett Mason, who is also in Paris, reported a witness account of the panicked incident saying “several young men” had thrown fire crackers into the crowd placing candles at the public square.

An AP photographer captured the panic in place de la republique earlier. That's me running on the left. False alarm. pic.twitter.com/RfUnBtsfeB — Brett Mason (@BrettMasonNews) November 15, 2015

After hundreds fled the square, just around the corner from the Bataclan Theatre concert hall where at least 89 were gunned down, heavily armed police continued to patrol the area.

Today cameras captured the moments following the false alarm as Stefanovic reported people were “cowering in the corners”.

“French police, as you can see, are taking absolutely no chances,” he said.

Close by, panic broke out near a small Cambodian restaurant and a bar that were the scenes of shooting on Friday night and police were seen running with guns drawn.

“People were shouting ‘move, move’ and some people were saying the heard gunshots,” said Martin Duuachat, according to The Guardian.

Meanwhile, a separate false alarm prompted panic in Marais, in central Paris.