The incident happened near the Pont Neuf - in the centre of the French capital - on Sunday night.

It is believed that the vehicle's driver, and a passenger sitting in the front seat, were those who died.

A woman who was sat in the back seat has been taken to hospital - and reports suggest bullets hit her arm.

A witness told Le Figaro newspaper: "A car was parked in the wrong direction along the Vert-Galant square on the Pont Neuf, the police approached to control the individuals present in the vehicle by pointing automatic weapons at him.

"The driver rushed off towards the police at full speed. The police fired immediately."