Two police officers have been injured while attempting to arrest a suspected car thief near Cherbourg, France's Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin said on Thursday. The assailant reportedly struck the officers with a sword.
A third officer at the scene managed to neutralize the attacker.
On Thursday at around 15:30 pm local time (14:30 GMT), two police officers approached a man at a service station in Tourlaville, Normandy. The man, suspected of car theft, reportedly resisted arrest and took a sabre from the car.
Two female officers were injured in the ensuing altercation, according to local media reports, with one struck on the chin and the other on the head. A third cop then reportedly opened fire on the attacker and the officers managed to pin the man to the ground.
The suspect has been flown to the hospital by helicopter, while the two injured officers were taken to a medical facility in Cotentin, Cherbourg. The extent of their injuries remains unclear.
The area has been cordoned off and detours have been put in place. Police said no terrorism motive is suspected for now.
Darmanin confirmed the incident in a tweet, noting that the two officer were injured when attempting to apprehend a car thief.