The Louvre in Paris has been evacuated following a shooting incident

The Louvre in Paris has been evacuated following an incident this morning.

Early reports suggest that the guard on duty at the museum opened fire on a suspected attacker who tried to enter with a suitcase. The BBC is reporting that the guard was attacked with a knife as the person tried to enter. The Interior Ministry confirmed that there is a "serious" incident underway.

Evénement grave de #sécurité publique en cours à #Paris quartier du #Louvre, priorité à l'intervention des forces de sécurité et de secours pic.twitter.com/PxTLacJk7a

— Ministère Intérieur (@Place_Beauvau) February 3, 2017

A national state of emergency remains in place in Paris since the horror attacks in 2015 and 2016. The Department of Foreign Affairs advises Irish travellers to be vigilant in public places and follow the advice of the local authorities. The Louvre is the world's largest museum and a Paris landmark. Located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the city's first arrondissement, it’s home to more than 35,000 objects from prehistory to the 21st century. The Louvre is the world's second most visited museum, receiving more than 9.26 million visitors annually.