A car filled with weapons deliberately hit a police van before bursting into flames on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in central Paris.
French police sealed off one of the best-known streets in Paris, the Champs-Elysées. Photo: AFP
The driver died in the incident. Police found a Kalashnikov rifle, handguns and gas bottles in the car.
"Security forces have been targeted in France once again," Interior Minister Gérard Collomb said, calling it an "attempted attack".
No law enforcement officers or civilian bystanders were hurt.
France is under a state of emergency after being hit by a wave of deadly terrorist attacks in recent years.
A policeman was shot dead and two others were wounded in an attack on the Champs-Élysées in April, just days before the first round of the presidential election.
Monday's incident occurred a day after the end of France's parliamentary elections, which saw President Emmanuel Macron's party win a majority.
Sniffer dogs
A white car could be seen standing in the middle of the empty avenue with one door open and sniffer dogs were sent in.
Our correspondent says there are always many police and gendarme vehicles near the spot, as it is next to the local police station.
Bomb disposal experts were sent to the scene to inspect the vehicle, a Renault Mégane.
Mr Collomb, who visited the site, said weapons and explosives found inside "could potentially blow this car up".
Reports say officers had to smash the car windows to pull the driver out.
The man was known to intelligence services, the BFMTV news channel reports.
Police earlier warned people to respect a security cordon around the area.
The anti-terrorist section of the prosecutor's office has opened up an investigation into the incident, which happened close to the Élysée Palace, the president's official residence, and the US embassy.
- BBC