Tour de France (file)
Tour de France (file)Thinkstock

French police opened fire on a car which attempted to break through the barricades at the spot where the Tour de France is scheduled to finish later Sunday.

Police officials said the two drivers attempted to smash through the barriers as they finished setting up the barricades for the race; hundreds of thousands of people are scheduled to arrive to watch the yearly bicycling competition. 

BBC places the incident at the Champs Elysee, whereas Sky News names the site of the incident as the Place de la Concorde.

Despite being shot at, the two drivers have apparently escaped unharmed on foot. The exact circumstances are unclear, as French media outlets are reporting only one person being present in the offending vehicle, whereas international media reports two. No officers were injured during the exchange. 

A manhunt is now underway, although BBC Paris correspondent Hugh Schofield stated Sunday morning that terrorism does not appear to be a motive in the incident. 

"The dark-coloured car first collided with another vehicle," a police representative stated to the Associated Press. "Police gestured at the driver to stop, but he accelerated towards them and they fired several shots. The incident happened around 8am." 

"The driver's identity and motives are unknown," he added. "Police said they did not know if it was an attempted terrorist attack, but the incident raised fears that the French capital could be again be targeted."