According to the Le Parisien newspaper, four suspects fled from a vehicle after it drove straight into a policewoman outside the Elysee Palace, where President Francois Hollande was present at the time.

BFM TV reported that the car had been going the wrong way around a one-way system when the 37-year-old officer approached it and was knocked down. It said two people had been arrested by police on bikes, and that two others were still on the run.

The officer was taken to hospital and is being treated for wrist, back and knee injuries.

Stephanie Weber-Boyer, a spokesperson for the French police union Alliance, told Europe 1: "[The officer] says that the driver looked at her in the eye and did not pull on the brakes, and that he voluntarily hit her. Three witnesses nearby say the same thing."

Police officials are yet to comment following the incident on Wednesday night, while reports said it was not clear whether the incident was connected to the attacks that killed 17 across France last week.