PARIS, Oct. 3 -- Paris Prosecutor Remy Heitz on Thursday confirmed that four people were fatally stabbed by an administration worker inside police headquarters in Paris, adding that an investigation was underway to determine the assailant's motive.
"We deplore the death of three men and a woman: three police officers and one administrative employee," Heitz told reporters.
An investigation into murder and attempted murder of public agents was opened, he said.
Heitz added that the attacker's home was being searched and that anti-terrorism prosecutors were also investigating possible connections with terrorist organizations.
At around 13:00 local time (1100 GMT), a man armed with a ceramic knife attacked police officers at police headquarters in the center of Paris before being shot dead by another officer.
According to media reports, the assault could be related to a workplace dispute.
"I know there were tensions between him and his direct supervisor. I do not think this is a terrorist act," Christophe Crepin, a police official and spokesperson of the "Police up in Anger" movement, told France Info radio.
After the assault, the police headquarters was evacuated and a security perimeter was set up. The nearest metro station was closed for security reasons.
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said at a brief press conference that the 45-year-old assailant had been employed at the police headquarters since 2003 and "had never displayed any behavioral disorder or showed any signs for concern."
Denouncing "an event of extreme seriousness," the minister added that "the investigation is just beginning. Police was immediately mobilized so that the truth is established."
President Emmanuel Macron visited the police headquarters shortly after the attack "to express his support and solidarity to all staff of the prefecture," his office said.
The uNPRecedented assault inside the police headquarters came a day after about 27,000 police officers took to the streets to protest against low wages, long hours and an increase in suicides in their ranks.