Paris police open fire on car at Tour de France barricades

PARIS — Paris police officers opened fire on a car that tried to crash the barricades hours before the final arrival of the Tour de France cycling race on Sunday, a police official said.

The car escaped with its two occupants apparently unharmed after coming under fire in the Place de la Concorde, where the cyclists make their final triumphant rounds to conclude the race, said Luc Poignant, a spokesman with the SGP police union.

Hundreds of thousands of people gather in the Place de la Concorde and the Champs Elysees for the final leg of the Tour de France, which was due to arrive later in the day.

Poignant said officers were finishing setting up the barricades for the race when the car tried to crash through the barriers. Officers opened fire on the car, which ultimately drove away.

Poignant told the BFM television network that no officers were injured.