A female police officer has been killed in a fresh shooting incident in southern Paris, hours after Islamist gunmen attacked satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

The officer was confirmed dead after a gunman, armed with an automatic weapon, opened fire in rue Pierre Brossolette in Montrouge, south of the French capital.

Her death is likely to further escalate tensions in Paris, coming so soon after the Charlie Hebdo massacre which killed 12 people - including two policemen.

A street sweeper was also wounded in today's attack, authorities said. Police and emergency services rushed to the scene.

A suspect has been arrested although the shooter fled and is currently on the run.

The incident erupted after a car accident, iTele reported, saying that, as a traffic police patrol approached, the driver of a vehicle involved in the crash opened fire.

"There was an officer in front of a white car and a man running away who shot," said Ahmed Sassi, an eyewitness.

It was not immediately clear if the shooting was related to yesterday's attack at the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

French police have arrested seven people in connection with the Charlie Hebdo shooting. A manhunt is underway for the two main suspects, brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi.

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