Paris police on 'crisis alert' stand down after feared hostage situation at church
A PARIS church was put on lockdown in a suspected hostage situation in Etienne Marcel sparking terror attack fears.
France is on high terror alert following various attacks this year
French authorities rushed to a church in central Paris amid reports of an attack.
Journalist Jean-Pierre Duthion said that police officers were "worried about the crisis situation but did not want to create panic" on Twitter.
The police in Paris took to Twitter to say that the area near the Saint-Leu church, between Les Halles and Etienne Marcel was cordoned off and ordered people to avoid the area.
A police officer:
— Jean Pierre Duthion (@halona) September 17, 2016
"There is a crisis situation, we don't want to create panic situation." Étienne Marcel#Paris #France
Police attend possible hostage situation in Paris
Intervention en cours des forces de l'ordre sur le 1er arrdt de Paris, évitez le secteur.
— Préfecture de police (@prefpolice) September 17, 2016
Mr Duthion also said that there were rumours that this could be a hostage situation.
A helicopter was flying over the scene on Saturday afternoon and the police were called at 4:30pm.
The journalist at the scene said that police officers were "worried" and "they continued to ask each other" what happened in Etienne Marcel.
Police have cordoned off the area in Paris
We are worried about a crisis situation but we do not want to create panic
There were also reports on Twitter that police squads were on standby in the area.
Police have said that the operation is now over, but they were worried at the time.
Police rushed to an area near the Saint-Leu church
A police officer:
— Jean Pierre Duthion (@halona) September 17, 2016
"There is a crisis situation, we don't want to create panic situation." Étienne Marcel#Paris #France
Un hélicoptère en survol à Étienne Marcel à proximité du lieu de l'attentat. #EtienneMarcel #Paris pic.twitter.com/kYKmbU5LgP
— Remy Buisine (@RemyBuisine) September 17, 2016
At around 5:30pm, Mr Duthion said the police are leaving, there is no security any more and police trucks have left the area of Etienne Marcel.
The Government has released a press release confirming that the event was a false alarm and the details are still being investigated.
Police scrambled to the scene in central Paris
The French Home Secretary thanked the security forces for dealing with the incident, but there are no clear explanations about what exactly was the cause.
Tensions are very high at the moment following deadly attacks this year across France.
In July, as ISIS supporter ploughed a trick into a crowd of people celebrating Bastille Day in Nice, which killed 85 people.