Belarus are currently contesting the IIHF World Championships in Paris ©Getty Images

Didier Canesse, the ambassador of France to Belarus, has been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as they called for an investigation into the search of their national ice hockey team at the Paris Montparnasse train station.

The Belarus national team were reportedly subject to a thorough search by police in Paris yesterday, which was claimed to have lasted for nearly 20 minutes.

It was also alleged that attempts to determine the reason for the search by the team ended in failure.

The team returned to their hotel after the search was concluded.

They are currently in the France capital to compete in the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championships.

A statement from the Belarus Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed they had summoned Canesse to a meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Kravchenko to protest about the incident.

“During the meeting, the Deputy Foreign Minister, Oleg Kravchenko, expressed a strong protest of the Belarusian side regarding the inspection of Belarusian athletes participating in the World Hockey Championship by representatives of French law enforcement bodies on May 3, 2017 at the railway station Paris Montparnasse, which was conducted in a form that undermines human dignity," the statement said.

“The Belarusian side demanded that the French side should carry out an investigation into the incident, provide explanations, make apologies, and take all necessary measures in order to prevent similar incidents in the future.”

Belarus have reportedly received an apology from tournament organisers ©Getty Images
Belarus have reportedly received an apology from tournament organisers ©Getty Images

There is currently heightened security in Paris as the build-up to the French Presidential Election on May 7 continues.

Last month a policeman was been shot dead and another two wounded in an attack on the Champs-Élysées.

The incident marked the latest terrorist attack on the French capital, the worst of which came in November 2015, where 130 people lost their lives in a series of coordinated assaults across the city.

According to the Belarusian Telegraph Agency, the Belarusian Ice Hockey Federation have received a letter from tournament organisers offering “words of regret” regarding the incident.

IIHF President Rene Fasel also visited the team prior to their opening match of the tournament against Finland in the AccorHotels Arena, claiming the governing body have launched an investigation.

The season's showpiece men's event is due to run until May 21, with action taking place at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany, as well as in Paris.

Belarus are competing in Group B in Paris, who are bidding for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Group A is taking place in Cologne, with the German city also set to stage the semi-finals and medal matches.