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Strasbourg shooting: France hunts gunman as alert level raised Strasbourg shooting: Gunman shouted 'Allahu Akbar' as he attacked
(about 2 hours later)
France has issued a maximum level of alert as police hunt a gunman who opened fire at a Christmas market in the eastern city of Strasbourg. The Strasbourg gunman yelled "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) as he opened fire on people enjoying an evening out at a Christmas market, the Paris public prosecutor told reporters.
Three people were killed and 13 wounded, eight of them seriously. Rémy Heitz said two people had been killed and one left brain-dead after the attack in the eastern French city on Tuesday.
The gunman, 29, known to authorities as having been radicalised in prison, escaped after reportedly being injured. Twelve were wounded, six seriously.
Some 350 officers are involved in the search for the gunman. The deputy interior minister has acknowledged he may no longer be in France. The man, named by local media as Chérif Chekatt, was known to authorities as having been radicalised in prison.
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said the country had issued an "urgence attentat" (emergency attack) alert, expanding police powers and creating the highest degree of vigilance. The 29-year-old was armed with a gun and a knife and escaped the area in a taxi, Mr Heitz said.
The attacker boasted to the driver - who has spoken to police - that he had killed 10 people, and said he had been injured in a firefight with soldiers.
Hundreds of officers are currently involved in the search for the gunman. France's Deputy Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez earlier acknowledged he may no longer be in France.
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said the country had moved to a high level of alert, expanding police powers and increasing vigilance.
He added that border controls had been strengthened and security at all Christmas markets would be stepped up.He added that border controls had been strengthened and security at all Christmas markets would be stepped up.
The mayor of Strasbourg, Roland Ries, has said the Christmas market will be closed on Wednesday and flags lowered to half-mast at the local town hall.The mayor of Strasbourg, Roland Ries, has said the Christmas market will be closed on Wednesday and flags lowered to half-mast at the local town hall.
Protests have also been banned in the city - which is the seat of the European parliament - but not in the rest of France, Reuters news agency said. The country is in the midst of a wave of protests highlighting the economic frustration and political distrust of poorer working families.
What happened?What happened?
The attack unfolded at around 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT) on Tuesday close to Strasbourg's famed Christmas market near one of the central squares, Place Kléber, which attracts thousands of visitors at this time of year.The attack unfolded at around 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT) on Tuesday close to Strasbourg's famed Christmas market near one of the central squares, Place Kléber, which attracts thousands of visitors at this time of year.
A woman called Audrey told France's BFM TV how she came face to face with the killer. A woman called Audrey told France's BFM TV how she came face to face with the killer after watching him shoot a man in the head.
"He came out from the porch of a building armed with a pistol in his hand, his arm outstretched. He headed towards a gentleman walking in front of me and he immediately fired a bullet at his head," she said.
The gunman then opened fire for a second time, and another man fell to ground.The gunman then opened fire for a second time, and another man fell to ground.
Her friends began to run to safety, but Audrey was frozen to the spot. The gunman turned, and faced her - but then he too ran.Her friends began to run to safety, but Audrey was frozen to the spot. The gunman turned, and faced her - but then he too ran.
"Why didn't he shoot at me?" she told the TV channel. "I don't know. I think I was extremely lucky. As everyone was screaming he fled.""Why didn't he shoot at me?" she told the TV channel. "I don't know. I think I was extremely lucky. As everyone was screaming he fled."
At some point in the moments that followed, the gunman exchanged fire with officers who were patrolling the area as part of anti-terror measures. According to Mr Heitz, as he fled he came into contact with four soldiers. He began firing at them, and they fired back.
It is thought he was injured. According to Mr Castaner, the man "fought twice with our security forces".
How did he escape?How did he escape?
According to France's BFM TV, he managed to reach a taxi which drove him away from the scene and dropped him in the vicinity of the police station in Neudorf, the area where he is understood to live which sits on the border between Germany and France. He managed to reach a taxi which drove him away from the scene and dropped him in the vicinity of the police station in Neudorf, the area where he lives which sits on the border between Germany and France.
It was the taxi driver who told police the man was wounded in his left leg. When he got out the vehicle, he fired at police officers.
Residents in Neudorf have been urged to stay indoors.
What do we know about the gunman?What do we know about the gunman?
A picture is beginning to emerge of the suspected attacker, although a motive is still not known. According to police - who refer to him as Chérif C - the gunman was born in Strasbourg and was already known to the security services as a possible terrorist threat.
He has not been officially named, but French media are referring to him as Chérif Chekatt. He was the subject of a "fiche S", a watchlist of people who represent a potential threat to national security.
According to police, he was born in Strasbourg and was already known to the security services as a possible terrorist threat. He was the subject of a "fiche S", the same system under which Amedy Coulibaly - who attacked a supermarket in 2015 - was flagged. He also had 27 convictions spanning across France, Germany and Switzerland, and has spent considerable time in prison as a result.
He is understood to have served prison sentences in both France and Germany, while BFM TV described him as a "repeat offender" and "delinquent". Police were seeking him on Tuesday morning in connection with another case, but did not find him at home.
However, while Deputy Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed he had served several sentences, he said his crimes had never been terrorism-related. However Mr Nuñez said his crimes had never been terrorism-related. But, he added, it was during one period in prison that he was indentified as having become radicalised.
But, Mr Nuñez added, it was during one period in prison that he was indentified as having become radicalised.
"The fact he was a 'fiche S' did not pre-judge his level of dangerousness," Mr Nuñez told France Inter."The fact he was a 'fiche S' did not pre-judge his level of dangerousness," Mr Nuñez told France Inter.
Stephane Morisse, from the FGP police union, said the man's flat in the Neudorf district of the city had been searched by police in connection with a robbery on Tuesday morning, but he was not there. A search of his home revealed a grenade, a rifle, four knives, two of which were hunting knives, and ammunition.
Grenades were found during the search, according to BFM TV.
What about the victims?What about the victims?
There has been some confusion over the number killed in the attack. At one point, the figure was revised down to two by officials, but has since gone back to three.
Thai media have named Anupong Suebsamarn, 45, as one of he dead. He is believed to have been on holiday with his wife.Thai media have named Anupong Suebsamarn, 45, as one of he dead. He is believed to have been on holiday with his wife.
Not much else is known yet, apart from the fact no children were hurt, and one soldier was slightly injured by a ricocheting shot. Not much else is known yet, apart from the fact no children were hurt and one soldier was slightly injured by a ricocheting bullet.
Why is Strasbourg a target?Why is Strasbourg a target?
Strasbourg has been the target of jihadist plots in the past.Strasbourg has been the target of jihadist plots in the past.
Not only does it have one of France's oldest Christmas markets, but it is the official seat of the European Parliament. That parliament was in session at the time of Tuesday evening's attack.Not only does it have one of France's oldest Christmas markets, but it is the official seat of the European Parliament. That parliament was in session at the time of Tuesday evening's attack.
In 2000, the Christmas market was at the centre of a failed al-Qaeda plot. Ten Islamist militants were jailed four years later for their part in the planned New Year's Eve attack.In 2000, the Christmas market was at the centre of a failed al-Qaeda plot. Ten Islamist militants were jailed four years later for their part in the planned New Year's Eve attack.
Security has been tight there ever since the 2015 Paris attacks.Security has been tight there ever since the 2015 Paris attacks.
However, MEPs were determined to carry on the morning after the attack, with German MEP Jo Leinen posting a picture of singing and Christmas lights in the European Parliament.However, MEPs were determined to carry on the morning after the attack, with German MEP Jo Leinen posting a picture of singing and Christmas lights in the European Parliament.
Were you at the Christmas market in Strasbourg at the time of the incident? Email your story to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Were you at the Christmas market in Strasbourg at the time of the incident? Email your story to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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