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Paris attack latest: Assailant armed with a knife 'shouted Allahu akbar' while stabbing people outside restaurants Paris attacker 'shouting Allahu akbar' shot dead by police after stabbing victims in street
(35 minutes later)
A man who launched a knife attack in Paris that left at least one victim dead was shouting “Allahu akbar” and trying to get into restaurants, a witness has told The Independent. Police have shot a man who launched a knife attack in Paris dead after he killed at least one person and injured four others.
“First one we thought it was two guys fighting,” said Fiona, who was having dinner in Kintaro restaurant and did not want her second name published.  “People that were queuing outside ran into the restaurant screaming, so everyone panicked and threw themselves on the floor.” A witness told The Independent the assailant was shouting "Allahu akbar" and trying to get into restaurants as diners barricaded the doors.
Fiona said the same man came back with the knife minutes later and was “screaming Allahu akbar”. "First one we thought it was two guys fighting," said Fiona, who was having dinner in Kintaro restaurant and did not want her second name published. 
“Some guys including my friend blocked the door in case he would try to enter,” she added. "People that were queuing outside ran into the restaurant screaming, so everyone panicked and threw themselves on the floor."
“When we ran away they were still looking for the guy and one woman was laying down on the floor her neck was bleeding.” Fiona said the same man came back with the knife minutes later and was "screaming Allahu akbar".
More follows… "Some guys including my friend blocked the door in case he would try to enter," she added.
"When we ran away they were still looking for the guy and one woman was laying down on the floor her neck was bleeding."
The attack took place on Rue Saint-Augustin, which is famed for its many restaurants, and videos posted on social media showed people running from the scene.
Witnesses described panic and screams after seeing a “guy with a knife in the streets”, which have now been blocked off by security forces.
A man who lives in the street said he saw a “body and a man with his hands covered in blood”.
The multiple stabbing was launched in the Opera district of the French capital on Saturday evening.
A police spokesperson said five people were stabbed in the Second Arrondissement, adding: "One victim has died, two are seriously wounded and two are injured slightly. The attacker is dead."
The chief of Paris police, Michel Delpuech, has spoken to the police officers involved in the incident and assured the victims and their families of his support, a statement added.
Gerard Collomb, the French interior minister, praised the "sang froid and quick reaction of police officers who neutralised the assailant".
"The victims of this despicable act are first in my thoughts."
There was no immediate confirmation of a motive for the attack.