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According to terrified tourists, they were told to stay inside and not go into the park's public areas.

Shocking video footage posted on social media showed petrified people running away from the theme park, which is just outside the French capital.

Visitors were also told to not attempt to enter the Disneyland village tonight and stay holed-up in their hotels.

Images uploaded to Twitter showed a number of restaurants and cafes were placed on lockdown, with scared staff and holidaymakers looking panicked.

According to witnesses, the police and army arrived on the scene within minutes.

A witness told Sud Info: "The security guards locked the doors and we were evacuated by the back shop.

(Image: TWITTER) (Image: TWITTER)

"It was really panic. Many people were crying. We really wondered what was going on. I was with my son."

Social media users have said at least one blast came from the Marne-La-Vallée train station, which serves Disneyland.

One person tweeted: "A guy armed with a rifle would be at the station Marne Marne Chessy. Disney safety is on the teeth."

Another wrote: "I'm at Disney, crowd movement with a guy apparently armed with a rifle at the Marne La Vallée station, I thought I heard detonations."

However, it now appears it was a false alarm, which spread panic through crowds.

A spokesman at Marne la Vallee station said: "It seems that a malfunctioning escalator has caused the problems.

"It began working erratically and causing loud noises. It may be that some people have been hurt in this accident."

(Image: TWITTER)

However, there were contradictory reports earlier, with witnesses saying they saw a man with a rifle.

A man who said he was at the scene earlier tweeted in French: “I'm at Disney, crowd movement with a guy apparently armed with a rifle at the Marne la Vallée station, I thought I heard detonations

“Everyone goes away from the area, we know absolutely not if it's true, people in panic and crying.

“Many versions circulating on Twitter, there is nothing official, we know nothing of what happens.”

This account has been confirmed by others at the station.

"I do not know who is in the Valley but we were told to leave you in the lobby of the station," tweeted a woman.

Disneyland Paris has yet to comment on the incident.