La Defense shopping centre in Paris locked down over reports of 'armed individual'

Local schools and transport hubs locked down as officers conduct searches

French police have called reports of a gunman in Paris' 'Les Quatre Temps' shopping centre unfounded after placing the area on lockdown.

Officers had descended on the La Defense business district to the west of the city to hunt for for "an armed individual" following a report from a member of the public.

Shops in the 139,000 square-metre shopping hub were placed on lockdown while the centre's forecourt was evacuated.

However despite witness testimony, no such suspect was found. While regional media had previously said those in the area had seen a man wearing a tactical vest and carrying a rifle, a police source told the Reuters news agency the claims were unfounded.

Having told those in local schools and office buildings in the French capital's financial centre to stay where they were, the force had said it was conducting a search of the area for "the removal of doubt".

Footage from inside the shopping centre appeared to show lines of shoppers with their arms raised as they passed by armed officers.

Train and Metro services to the area were also suspended while the investigation took place.

The shopping centre, part of the Westfield group, holds around 230 shops and is among the nation's busiest retail hubs.