The most wanted fugitive from November's Paris attacks has been "caught alive" after being wounded in a Brussels shootout, say reports.

Salah Abdeslam is believed to have been injured during a major police operation in the Molenbeek suburb of the city, in which at least 10 shots were heard.

Grenades have also been used in the operation, it is understood.

White smoke was seen emerging from one of the buildings in the area, Sky's Matt Rhodes said, reporting from the scene.

“There is a lot of protection in the road now ...They are locking off many of the sides exits and streets," Rhodes said.

Belgium's La Libre newspaper said two people had been injured in the shootout. 

A police helicopter was heard overhead and many fire engines were seen near to the location, in the street.

Belgium's Prime Minster Charles Michel has left the EU-Turkey migrant crisis summit amid the reports.

Back in November it was reported that Abdeslam had reportedly returned to Brussels with a suicide vest - and "may have been ready to blow himself up".

A police source had told The Sunday Times of fears "there is a walking bomb" in the Belgian capital.

The source said Abdeslam may have become "trapped and desperate" since fleeing the bloodshed which killed 130 people.

Earlier, it was revealed that the fingerprints of Abdeslam were found in a flat raided by police in Brussels this week.

Belgian prosecutors on Friday confirmed his fingerprints were found at the apartment in the Forest area of the city.

The 26-year-old Brussels-born Frenchman is believed to have played a key logistical role in the attacks on the French capital, in which 130 people were killed.His older brother Brahim was a suicide bomber.

His older brother Brahim was a suicide bomber.

The younger Abdeslam was driven back to Brussels from Paris hours later by two friends - Mohammed Amri and Hamza Attou.

The three men were stopped near the border by French police but then released, as Abdeslam had not yet been connected to the attacks.