France: Eight killed in gun rampage

At least eight people died and 18 were injured early today when a gunman opened fire near the city hall of a Paris suburb.

Dozens of police vehicles and more than 100 rescue officials were dispatched to the scene in the western suburb of Nanterre, said Cmdr Christian Decolloredo of the Paris rescue squad.

The gunman was in police custody, Decolloredo said, adding that officials remained on high alert.

The shooting took place at around 1.15am local time (0015 Irish time), Decolloredo said.

The gunman was not identified, and the motive was not immediately clear.

A rescue official, Laurent Vibert, said the man used at least two automatic pistols and about 50 shells were scattered at the scene following the shooting.

French prime minister Lionel Jospin later arrived at the scene in Nanterre, a middle-class neighbourhood near a business district of western Paris.