The Kurdish Cultural Centre in Strasbourg Saint Denis Neighbourhood in Paris was targeted by an armed attack on Friday.

According to eyewitnesses, a person was driven to the street where the association is located and started to open fire on the association afterwards.

The assailant is also reported to have fired on a Kurdish restaurant and a hairdresser's salon on the same street.

According to the police and hospital sources, three people have lost their lives and three others were injured as a result of the attack. Initial reports had spoken of two dead and four injured.

The French police have encircled the area and do not allow anyone to approach the scene.

An eyewitness spoke to Medya Haber TV and said that a person approached the association and opened fire on those outside.

Citing police sources, AFP reported that the assailant, in his 60s, had been arrested. An eyewitness said that seven or eight shots had been fired.  

The attack came ahead of the approaching 10th anniversary of the triple murder in Paris of Kurdish women Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan and Leyla Şaylemez on 9 January 2013.

"A gun attack has taken place. Thank you to the security forces for their swift action," tweeted deputy Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire. "Thoughts for the victims and those who witnessed this drama."

Gregoire also tweeted that a medical-psychological emergency unit has been set up at the town hall of the 10th arrondissement of the capital.

"An investigation has been opened into the murder over voluntary manslaughter and aggravated violence," the Paris prosecutor's office told BFMTV.

"A 69-year-old man has been arrested and placed in custody," the prosecutor's office said.

According to BFMTV, the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, has announced that he is returning to Paris, sending his thoughts to the victims' families and recalling that the perpetrator of the shooting has been arrested.