France PM warns Le Pen against 'exploiting' Paris tragedy

French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has accused far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen of exploiting the death of a police officer for "political gain" following an attack in Paris on Thursday.

Cazeneuve said the National Front leader had "shamelessly exploiting fear and emotion for purely political ends", following a shooting linked to the Islamic State group that left a French police officer dead and two others injured.

Le Pen was "seeking - as she does after every tragedy - to take advantage of it", he added.

Le Pen is tipped to come in the first two places during Sunday's vote, which would see her qualify for the run-off vote on 7 May.

She quickly responded to Thursday's shooting in Paris' Champs Elysee which was claimed by the Islamic State group, by attacking the government, accusing it of weakness.

"This war against us is ceaseless and merciless," she said. The Socialist and previous centre-right administrations had "done everything to ensure that we lose" the fight, she said.

Many commentators have predicted that Le Pen could benefit from the backlash following the attack.

US President Donald Trump said the attack, just two days before the election, will have a "big impact" on France.

"Another terrorist attack in Paris. The people of France will not take much more of this. Will have a big effect on presidential election!" he tweeted.

Le Pen has promised to "take back control of its own borders from the European Union" and deport all foreigners on a terror watchlist.

Cazenueve countered this by saying that she "pretended not to know that it is this government that reinstated control of the borders" after the 2015 attacks in Paris that claimed 130 lives.

Eighty thousand people had been turned away at border checks since then and another 117 people deported for "terrorist activities".