A female police employee has been fatally stabbed in a knife attack at a police station in Rambouillet, south-west of Paris, reports the BBC.
The 48-year-old unarmed administrative officer was stabbed in the neck.
The 36-year-old attacker, who reportedly came to France from Tunisia several years ago, was shot and later died in hospital.
Anti-terror prosecutors have taken over the inquiry, and the killing is being treated as a possible terrorist attack.
The stabbing took place in the secure entrance to the police station on Friday afternoon as the worker was returning from her break at 14:20 (12:20 GMT).
Witnesses said the man had been seen walking around while on his mobile phone outside the police station and seized his chance to go in as the woman went through the security doors.
He lunged at the officer and her colleagues then opened fire on him.