Man wearing 'fake' suicide vest killed by Paris police

A man armed with a knife was shot to death by officers at a police station in northern Paris.

The man reportedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest) and was wearing what appeared to be an explosives vest although it was later found to be a fake, police and government sources said.

Investigators matched the man's fingerprints with those on file for the convicted thief, a homeless man who identified himself at the time as Sallah Ali, born in the Moroccan city of Casablanca in 1995.

News of the attack came just after President Francois Hollande concluded a sombre speech at police headquarters to mark the anniversary of the killings at Charlie Hebdo's offices on January 7, 2015.

Police said the neighbourhood in northern Paris was locked down after the shooting.