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Strasbourg shooting: What we know so far Strasbourg shooting: What we know so far
(about 2 hours later)
The attack began at around 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT), close to Strasbourg's Christmas market, which attracts thousands of visitors at this time of year. The attack began just before 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT), in the heart of Strasbourg's Christmas market, which attracts thousands of visitors at this time of year.
A lone gunman opened fire in three different parts of the city centre, killing three people and sending crowds of evening shoppers fleeing for safety. A lone gunman opened fire in the city centre, killing at least two people and sending crowds of evening shoppers fleeing for safety.
Between 20:20 and 21:00, he exchanged fire twice with members of the security forces patrolling the city and was wounded, said Interior Minister Christophe Castaner. He was seen holding a gun outside 10, rue des Orfèvres in the centre of the city, according to the Paris public prosecutor Rémy Heitz.
He then went around the area, down the following streets in succession: rue des Grandes Arcades, rue du Saumon, rue des Chandelles and rue Sainte-Hélène, before going on to rue du Pont Saint-Martin.
Along the way he opened fire several times and also used a knife to seriously wound and kill people, Mr Heitz said.
When faced by four soldiers of the anti-terror Sentinelle operation, he fired in their direction; they fired back, wounding him in the arm.
He then left the area shortly after 20:00 in a taxi which dropped him off in the Neudorf area, south-east of the city centre, about 10 minutes later.
The taxi driver said the man asked him to take him to that district without giving an address and saying he would guide him there.
The driver added he could see he had a hand gun and several wounds.
To explain the origin of his wounds, the man told him he had shot people in the centre of the city, adding he had shot at soldiers and "killed 10 people".
After he got out of the taxi, the gunman came across police officers and exchanged fire with them.
He also mentioned to the taxi driver the fact that a grenade had been found at his home that morning.
This allowed investigators to link the man with a police search undertaken on Tuesday morning, Mr Heitz said.
Police had earlier conducted a search at the man's home as part of investigations into a robbery and a homicide.
During that search, police had found a defensive grenade, a loaded rifle and four knives, Mr Heitz said.
Several areas neighbouring the Christmas market were sealed off on Tuesday evening and residents were told to stay indoors.Several areas neighbouring the Christmas market were sealed off on Tuesday evening and residents were told to stay indoors.
Many people took refuge in local restaurants, bars and shops.Many people took refuge in local restaurants, bars and shops.
The gunman then escaped in a taxi. The fact that he was wounded was later confirmed by the driver.
People blocked in the city centre were allowed to leave at about 01:30.People blocked in the city centre were allowed to leave at about 01:30.
What do we know about the gunman?What do we know about the gunman?
French prosecutors have named the suspect as Chérif Chekatt, 29, born in Strasbourg in 1989. French prosecutors have named the suspect as Chérif Chekatt, 29, born in Strasbourg in February 1989.
He was known to police as a "fiché S" (S file), which is used to flag someone who is considered a possible terrorist threat. He served time in prison in France and Germany for common-law offences, mainly robbery and violence, Mr Heitz said.
This means he would have been under surveillance, though not constantly. He was sentenced 27 times mainly in France, but also in Germany and Switzerland.
On Tuesday, police conducted a search at his home as part of investigations into a robbery and a homicide, and found grenades and a rifle, reports say. He is thought to have become radicalised during his time in prison, and was noticed by the relevant authorities in 2015 for that reason, he said.
The man had served time in prison in France and Germany for common-law offences, during which time he is thought to have become radicalised. He became "fiché S" - someone with an S file, which is used to flag someone who is considered a possible terrorist threat - around that time, and was being monitored by the DGSI, France's domestic intelligence agency, Mr Heitz added.
Who are the victims?Who are the victims?
Three people were killed in the attack and 13 wounded, eight of them seriously. At least two people were killed in the attack and 13 wounded, eight of them seriously, including one who had been declared as brain dead, Mr Heitz said.
A Thai tourist was one of the victims, named as Anupong Suebsamarn, 45, according to Thai media reports. He had recently arrived in the country on holiday, they say. He was killed with a bullet in the head on rue des Moulins, according to local TV.A Thai tourist was one of the victims, named as Anupong Suebsamarn, 45, according to Thai media reports. He had recently arrived in the country on holiday, they say. He was killed with a bullet in the head on rue des Moulins, according to local TV.
Another victim was a Strasbourg resident, Strasbourg Mayor Roland Ries told French TV. The man, born in 1957, died rue des Chandelles, local TV reported. Another victim was a Strasbourg resident, Strasbourg Mayor Roland Ries told French TV. The man, born in 1957, died on rue des Chandelles, local TV reported.
Of the seriously wounded, two were stabbed in the abdomen, two others were shot in the head and another was shot in the back of the neck, it said, quoting a hospital source.Of the seriously wounded, two were stabbed in the abdomen, two others were shot in the head and another was shot in the back of the neck, it said, quoting a hospital source.