Tiger killed after circus escape

A tiger escaped from a circus in Paris yesterday before being shot dead by the owner, who was then taken into custody, police said.

Firefighters were called shortly before 5pm by people who saw the 440lb predator wandering around the 15th arrondissement.

The tiger escaped from the Cirque Bormannmoreno, which had just moved to the area and planned to open its doors to the public on Dec 3.

The animal was shot in an alley, a spokesman for the fire service said.