A vehicle rammed into a police van Monday on the Champs-Elysees avenue inParis before bursting into flames, French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said.
"Once again, French security forces were targeted with this attempted attack on the Champs-Elysees", Collomb said, adding that "a number of weapons, explosives to blow up this car" were discovered at the scene.
Two police officials said that a handgun was found on the driver, who they said was badly burned after the vehicle exploded.
A man drove a vehicle that contained weapons and explosives into a French gendarmerie van in the center of Paris on Monday and died in the incident, without hurting police or passers-by.
Questions arose Tuesday over how a known radical Islamist who rammed a auto into a police van on Paris's Champs-Elysees was able to hold a gun licence.
Mr Collomb said that the attempted attack shows the threat France is facing is still very high and justifies its ongoing state of emergency, which was first introduced following the November 2015 attacks in Paris.
"I'll go back to my hotel now", said Alexander Ferreira. But both agreed when the mother said, "unfortunately we are now used to this".
Mr Brandet said bomb squads were still securing the scene.
An attacker defending the Islamic State group fatally shot a police officer on the Champs-Elysees in April, days before a presidential election, prompting an extensive security operation.
Trump's lawyer denies he's being investigated
Over the weekend, attorney Jay Sekulow appeared on CBS News " Face The Nation " and contradicted that claim. The government's investigation, begun by the FBI last summer, is far from that stage and is still growing.
But upon collision, the vehicle - and not the van - burst into flames, NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports from Paris.
The current state of emergency is due to expire on July 15 but the government is seeking to extend it until November 1 - presumably after the new anti-terrorism law takes effect.
Anti-riot police officers patrol the Champs-Elysees avenue on Monday following another attack on police in the French capital. He also confirmed that the attacker is dead.
The Paris prosecutor's counter-terrorism unit said an investigation had been opened into the incident only a short walk away from the Elysee presidential palace and the USA embassy.
French officials say the situation is under control, but could have been much worse.
The public are being advised to avoid the area.
Critics have said the security regimen has not prevented attacks and has resulted in warrantless, extrajudicial searches and house arrests.
In London on Monday, a van ploughed into a crowd of Muslims near a London mosque early on Monday, leaving one person dead and injuring 10 others in the second terror attack this month in the British capital.
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