A French soldier guarding the Louvre in Paris has shot a man who tried to attack a security patrol with a machete shouting "Allahu Akbar", police say.

The man, who tried to gain entry to the Louvre's shopping centre, was shot in the abdomen and seriously injured.

One soldier received a head injury.

The interior ministry described the situation as "serious". Visitors to the Louvre were told to crouch on the floor. PM Bernard Cazeneuve said the attack was "terrorist in nature".

Police say the suspected attacker was carrying two rucksacks but no explosives have been found.

Two-hundred-and-fifty visitors were in the Louvre at the time and they are being evacuated gradually after security checks.

Police say five shots were fired at the man.