French Policeman Slain in 'Despicable Terrorist Act,' Officials Say

A SWAT team killed the attacker after a short siege 35 miles from Paris.

The police officer, who has been named in media reports as Jean-Baptiste Salvaing, 42, was stabbed to death in front of his home in Magnanville, roughly 35 miles outside Paris.

After a short siege, a SWAT team entered the house and killed the attacker. Inside the home, officers found a 3-year-old child alive, and a woman's dead body. The woman, who is believed to be the policeman's wife, was an employee at the Ministry of Interior.

Two police officials confirmed the attacker's name as Larossi Abballa, 25, to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release names during ongoing investigations.

The suspect had been sentenced in 2013 to three years for "conspiracy to prepare acts of terrorism," according to the prosecutor's office. It's unclear when he was released.

The attacker reportedly said on the Facebook post, which is no longer accessible, that the Euro 2016 soccer tournament will be a "graveyard,” and called on others to kill "policemen, prison guards, journalists, rappers.”

President Hollande said in a statement, "Everything will be done to unveil the circumstances surrounding this tragedy.”

Hugo Leehardt reported from Paris.