One police officer was killed and another wounded in a shooting in central Paris on Thursday, while a gunman who opened fire on them was shot dead, French media reported.

(Getty/Kyodo)

The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the shooting, which took place days before a French presidential election, via its Amaq news agency, naming the attacker as Abu Yousif the Belgian, the reports said.

The officers were shot in the central boulevard of the famous Champs-Elysees at around 9 p.m., they said, adding the street has been sealed off.

Authorities were quoted as saying a second suspect who might have been involved in the incident on the street may still be on the loose

France goes to the polls on Sunday in the first round of the presidential election.