Three people have lost their life and 13 more have been injured
France has raised its terror alert after a gunman killed three people and injured 13 more, eight who were seriously wounded, at the Strasbourg Christmas market in northeastern part of the country. The attack took place at around 7pm (8pm local time) on Tuesday night.
A nationwide manhunt is now underway to find the culprit, who opened fire at innocent civilians after infiltrating the security zone at the venue.
The market is set up every year around the city’s historic Cathedral. It is the country’s largest.
The suspect has been named in the French media as Cherif C, who was born in Strasbourg in February 1989.
Interior minister Christophe Castaner has stated that the suspect was known to police services at the time of the shooting and had served time in prison for common offences in both France and Germany. BFMTV, a French television channel, reported that the suspect was known to be part of radicalised networks in Strasbourg.
He reportedly fled the scene of the crime injured after a shootout with the Strasbourg police. According to BFM, the shooter managed to reach a taxi which took him to the vicinity of the police station in Neudorf. The driver informed police that the assailant was wounded in his left leg.
Protests have now been banned in the city and the mayor, Roland Ries, has said the Christmas market will be closed on Wednesday. Flags will also be lowered to half-mast at the local town hall.
