Police shot dead an assailant who threatened officers and members of the public with a knife just hours after a similar incident in Nice left three people dead

Police have shot dead a man shouting “Allahu Akhbar” in Avignon, southern France, as the country was placed on high alert.

The incident occurred just hours after three people were killed at the Notre Dame basilica in Nice on Thursday morning.

Local police in Avignon confirmed they opened fire at 11.15am local time after the man threatened passersby with a knife. No other casualties were reported.

Police were also reportedly threatened in the incident. It is unclear if the Avignon and Nice incidents are related,

It is believed the man is of Turkish origin, according to early reports.

The incident happened in Montfavet, a neighbourhood several kilometers from the city centre.

The attacker had said he wanted to punish Paty for showing pupils cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad in a civics lesson.