Knife-wielding man shot dead at Paris Police Station

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NBC News – PARIS — Police fatally shot a knife-wielding man attempting to enter a Paris police station on Thursday, according to officials.

The incident came as France marked the one-year anniversary of the deadly Charlie Hebdo terror attacks.

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The man with a knife shouted "Allahu Akbar" — or "God is greatest" — and was killed by police before he could enter the 18th arrondissement's Goutte d'Or police station, the local mayor's office told NBC News.

The man was alone, added a spokeswoman for the area's mayor, saying that a security cordon was in place and two schools were put on lockdown as a precaution.

Ministry of the Interior spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet told NBC News that what appeared to be an explosive device on the suspect was "fake."

The Paris police press office confirmed to NBC News that shots were fired outside the force's Goutte d'Or station but did not provide further details.

Images from the scene showed armed police securing the area and numerous emergency services vehicles. Paris firefighters urged locals to avoid the area.

News of the shooting came shortly after French President Francois Hollande told police forces that a "terrorist threat" remained in an address marking the grim anniversary.

The office of Charlie Hebdo, a satirical magazine, was the first target in a multi-day terror spree which began on Jan. 7, 2015. The attacks left 20 people dead, including three terrorists.

Less than a year later, Islamist extremists laid siege to Paris and killed 130 people across the city.

France has been under a state of emergency since those Nov. 13 attacks.