OTTAWA — Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland has issued a statement condemning an apparent ********* ****** Thursday on Paris’ iconic Champs-Elysees boulevard.

A ****** opened **** on ******, ******* one officer and wounding three people before ****** shot and ****** him.

A French prosecutor said the ******** emerged from a car and used an automatic ****** to shoot at the officers outside a department store at the centre of the boulevard.

The Islamic State group quickly claimed responsibility for the ******, which comes just three days before a tense presidential ********.

Freeland said Canada offers its “deepest condolences to the loved ones of the ****** officer ****** and a swift recovery to the two ****** officers *******” and that officials are ready to provide consular assistance to any Canadian citizens if needed.

Prime Minister ************** posted a message on Twitter late Thursday saying “Canada stands with France, as we always will, against ******.”

Security has been a dominant theme in French ******** campaign and the ******** has caused the 11 candidates to cancel or reschedule final campaign events ahead of Sunday’s first round vote.