Three police officers have been shot dead by gunman in France
BBC reports that the officers were trying to assist a woman who had climbed onto the roof of a small building in the village of Saint-Just early on Wednesday, December 23.
The gunman shot at the officers when they arrived at the scene and set fire to the house.
A fourth officer attended the incident and was wounded.
It has been reported that the woman was rescued.
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Hide AdThe suspect, a 48-year-old man, is said to be known to authorities on child custody issues.
The mayor of Saint-Just, François Chautard, told Le Figaro that the house had burned down and that officers were trying to determine whether the suspect was still inside or if he had managed to escape.
Firefighters and Elite tactical police officers remain at the scene in the village in the Puy-de-Dôme department, in France's Massif Central mountain region.
The Clermont-Ferrand prosecutor's office said one officer was initially shot dead and another wounded shortly after midnight, and then two more police officers were killed as they arrived at the scene.