CCTV footage has been released of the moment a suspected Islamic extremist grabbed a female soldier and attempted to take her gun at Orly airport in Paris.

In the video, the gunman - identified as Ziyed Ben Belgacem - drops a shopping bag and seizes the soldier around the shoulders as her colleague patrols ahead.

He shoves her along inside the airport terminal for more than 40 seconds, before getting into a struggle as he attempts to wrench away her gun.

The struggle continues for nearly a minute before he is shot dead by other soldiers as he grabs the weapon.

Sky News has frozen the video at the moment other soldiers open fire.


Image: Ziyed Ben Belgacem was shot dead at the airport

Authorities have said the 39-year-old French national had a long criminal record of drug and robbery offences.

Toxicology tests showed an alcohol level of 0.93 grammes per litre in his blood, along with the presence of cannabis and cocaine, a judicial source said.

Belgacem is said to have shouted "I am here to die for Allah - there will be deaths", before attempting to grab the soldier's weapon and shoot people inside the airport.

He was stopped for speeding during a traffic stop in the north of the city on Saturday morning, where he shot a policewoman in the face with an air pistol, injuring her.

Belgacem then held up a female motorist at gunpoint, stole her car and drove to Orly airport before attacking a patrol of three counter-terrorism soldiers.

No one else was injured in the attack.