Five injured after knifeman goes on rampage in Marseille - as attacker shot dead by French police

The incident, which took place in the coastal French city of Marseille on Tuesday, saw the man brandish two knives before lashing out at those in a local hotel.

The man was also seen to brandish a baton, ignoring orders from police to drop his weapons before armed officers opened fire.

One eye witness described seeing 'two large butcher knives' at the scene.

The suspected attacker is described as a Tunisian national by local police, with the man said to be a legal resident of France and known to police.

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French police have confirmed that the suspect had been evicted from the hotel moments earlier over unpaid rent before attacking a individual staying in his old room, the hotel's manager, and his son, the prosecutor confirmed..

Marseille prosecutor Nicolas Bessone confirmed the suspect had died following the incident.

According to witnesses, shots were heard close to the Old Port in Marseille shortly before 3pm local time on Tuesday.

Customers chased the man away from the snack bar on Cours Belsunce after he stabbed three people in the hotel.

A large police response was seen in the area, with police at the scene armed with tasers and guns.

One witness told French media that police "tried to arrest [the perpetrator]" before "the man tried to attack a police officer with a knife".

One victim remains in a critical condition in hospital, with two others in a 'serious condition', according to police.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau is set to visit the scene on Tuesday evening.

Marseille Mayor Benoît Payan expressed his full backing of the police response.

"The security of the women and men of Marseille is my priority," he wrote on social media.