Four killed in shooting at travellers' camp in north France

Four people were killed in a shooting at a travellers' camp in Roye, northern France, on Tuesday afternoon. Another toddler wa seriously wounded, as was the gunman.

Police block access to the travellers' camp on Tuesday AFP

The 73-year-old assailant, who lived at the camp in the Somme region, burst into a neighbours' caravan and killed a six-month-old baby, the 19-year-old mother and a man.

Another toddler was seriously injured and taken to hospital in nearby Amiens.

The gunman was injured when security forces intervened but shot two gendarmes, one of whom later died of his wounds.

The assailant is reported to have been drinking but no motive for the attack has yet been established.

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve met the families of the police to show his support.

Local officials that relations between the camp's residents and Roye's inhabitants were good.

The camp was undergoing maintenance at the time of the assault and only about 15 people were still present.

Journalists were assaulted by some travellers, who had come to the scene after the attack, during the evening.