2 French policemen shot by Islamist (Lead)

Paris April 27 (IANS) Two police officers were shot and injured by a suspected radical Islamist when they tried to arrest him on the French island of Réunion on Thursday.

The suspect opened fire with a shotgun as a special police squad raided his home in the town of Saint Benoit BBC reported.

The police said the man who is in his 20s and now in custody was spreading Islamist propaganda online.

Weapons and ingredients used to make Molotov cocktails were found at his flat French Interior Minister Matthias Fekl said.

The local media said the officers were not seriously injured and the suspect was also shot during the raid.

France s counter-terrorism authorities have opened an investigation into the incident.

The Interior Minister said the suspect s mother was also being questioned.

--IANS
soni/vt