BREAKING: Armed ex-soldier arrested after police gunfight

Police have detained a heavily armed former soldier who has been hiding out in woods in the Dordogne.

Terry Dupin, 29, who was identified earlier on Monday, May 31, was wounded in an exchange of gunfire with officers from the elite GIGN police unit at the edge of the search area. He was receiving treatment from emergency services for 'serious' injuries, officials have said.

"The individual has been neutralised. He was injured, he is currently in the hands of the emergency services," prefect Frédéric Périssat said, and thanked local people for following police instructions to stay indoors while the manhunt was ongoing.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin publicly thanked officers on Twitter.

No police officers were hurt in the search or arrest of the suspect, a police spokesman said.

Police were called to his ex-partner's home in the 1,800-population village at around midnight on Saturday, after the suspect allegedly threatened her current partner. Officers said that he fired on them when they arrived before fleeing into the woods.

Two investigations have been opened in connection with the incident - one for violence to an ex-spouse and attempted homicide of her current partner. The second for "attempted homicide on a person holding public authority" after police attending the scene came under fire.