Six people have been injured in an attack at the Gare du Nord train station in Paris, before the alleged offender was shot by off-duty police officers.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told reporters the offender attacked travellers with what looked like a home-made weapon at the station entrance and inside early on Wednesday morning.

Police had earlier said the man had used a knife or blade.

Within a minute, off-duty police officers returning home after a night shift shot the alleged attacker three times, Mr Darmanin said.

Gare du Nord, one of the busiest stations in Europe, is the arrival point of the Eurostar train from London and a major gateway to the north of Europe.

Asked about possible terrorist motives, Mr Darmanin said a criminal investigation had been opened but so far no investigation for terrorism had been opened.

He said the alleged attacker, who has been taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries, had said nothing during the attack and had no identity papers on him.

One of the six people injured was a police officer, Mr Darmanin said.

Police secured the area following the attack.

Radio franceinfo, quoting rail operator SNCF, said trains were operating normally.

In February 2022, police killed a man who attacked them with a knife at the Gare du Nord station.

In October 2017, a man who stabbed two people at the Marseille train station was shot and killed by soldiers.

Reuters