A man has been shot dead at an airport in Paris after trying to grab a soldier’s gun, officials say.

Paris Orly airport was evacuated after the incident, after he grabbed the gun and took refuge in a shop.

He was shot dead by security, officials said on Saturday morning.

The French Interior Ministry later announced a police officer had been shot and injured north of Paris during a road check, although it is believed to be a separate incident.

​Police evacuated part of the airport and warned visitors in a tweet to avoid the airport while the police operation was underway.

A police spokesman wrote on Twitter: “Ongoing police operation. Do not cross the security perimeter, follow the instructions.”

French national police are now searching the airport in a hunt for any possible explosive devices.

A national police official said the the soldier is part of the Sentinel special force installed around France to protect sensitive sites after a string of deadly Islamic extremist attacks.

Passenger Isabelle Raynaud tweeted: “Stuck in the plane to Orly we are prevented from disembarking. There have been shots…”

The shooting came after a similar incident last month at the Louvre Museum. France remains under a state of emergency.