France shooting: Three police officers killed and fourth injured by gunman who has been found dead

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Three police officers were shot dead and a fourth has been injured in central France following an emergency call about a woman being threatened by her husband over child custody.

The officers were responding to reports of a domestic violence incident in a small village close to the town of Saint-Just, west of Lyon, and in the Puy-de-Dôme department.

The man suspected of carrying out the attack on the police officers has been found dead, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Twitter on Wednesday.

“He is believed to have shot himself,” said an investigating source.

Mr Darmanin named the officers who died as Brig Arno Mavel, 21, Lt Cyrille Morel, 45, and Adjutant Rémi Dupuis, 37.

“Two officers approached a house just after midnight following an emergency call,” said the investigating source.

"A woman was on the roof screaming for help, and as two gendarmes got close, a man opened fire, killing one officer instantly.  

"Another was hit in the thigh and rushed to hospital, where he subsequently died. More officers then arrived, and a man set fire to the house.

“The woman managed to escape, but then there was more shooting, in which another gendarme died, and a fourth was wounded.”

President Emmanuel Macron said the police officers were the nation’s “heroes” on Twitter.

London’s Metropolitan Police also joined in with the tributes. The force said "our thoughts are with all of our colleagues from @Gendarmerie today following the tragic death of three officers”.

The fourth officer, who was reportedly shot in the leg, did not have life-threatening injuries, said the ministry in a statement.

The suspect – who has not been named – is aged 48, and is known to be involved in a custody battle with his wife, who is also unidentified.

Mr Darmanin also paid tribute on Twitter to the officers who were killed.

He said: "The nation bows down before their courage and commitment. Everything is being done to find the person responsible for these acts."

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