Four were killed and over a dozen injured in a shooting in the vicinity of the Christmas Market in the historic French city of Strasbourg Tuesday evening.
A “major public safety event” was underway Tuesday evening, according to the French ministry of the interior, after shots were fired in Strasbourg, the French city which serves as one of the two homes of the European Parliament. The ministry instructed local residents to stay in their homes.
Update 2238 GMT — Death toll in Strasbourg shooting rises
France’s interior minister Christophe Castaner says four people are now confirmed dead after a gunman allegedly opened fire in Strasbourg’s city center, according to Euronews. Police confirm at least 13 people were injured in the shooting; Seven were seriously wounded and four suffered minor injuries.
Update 2215 GMT — Questions asked over the effectiveness of French police
After revelations that the suspect was due to be arrested by French police Tuesday morning but when officers arrived at his home he wasn’t it, suggesting a serious failure in police intelligence. It may be the failed arrest alerted the suspect — who is known to have been radicalised, but not for which ideology — to the fact the security services knew about his activity, prompting the attack.
The facts as known so far prompted centre-right Republicans party leader Laurent Wauquiez to ask: “How many attacks committed by [radicalised individuals] must we undergo before adapting our fight against terrorism? What are we waiting for, to finally fight to eradicate the fundamentalism that has declared war [against us]?”
Combien d’attentats commis par des fichés S devons-nous encore subir avant d’adapter notre droit à la lutte contre le terrorisme ? Qu’attendons-nous pour enfin livrer bataille pour éradiquer l’intégrisme qui nous a déclaré la guerre ? #Strasbourg https://t.co/CclSgQzXQZ
— Laurent Wauquiez (@laurentwauquiez) December 11, 2018
UPDATE 2125 — ‘Radicalised’ shooter surrounded by police
Following an earlier report from French media which stated the attacker had been injured by Operation Sentinelle soldiers, Le Figaro now reports the 29-year-old male has been surrounded by police, having proceeded on foot. The individual is understood to be known to police and is the subject of an ‘S’ file — French police slang for an individual who has been under investigation for radicalisation in the past.
UPDATE 2111 — Counter-terror police take over the investigation
Another update from Agence France Press who report the investigation has now been taken over by the Paris counter-terrorism police. The wire service also reports police sources who state the attacker was wounded by French army soldiers deployed as part of operation Sentinelle before fleeing.
Strasbourg : l’assaillant blessé par des militaires de Sentinelle avant de prendre la fuite, selon la police #AFP
— Agence France-Presse (@afpfr) December 11, 2018
BREAKING: French prosecutor’s office says terror investigation opened in Strasbourg shooting.
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 11, 2018
UPDATE 2110 — Images from Strasbourg
The security services are out in force in Strasbourg Tuesday evening, as these images from Getty attest:
Police motorcycles drives in the streets of Strasbourg, eastern France, after a shooting breakout, on December 11, 2018. – One person has been killed and ten people injured in a shooting today near a Christmas market in the eastern French city of Strasbourg, police said, adding that the suspected gunman was on the run. (Photo by Frederick FLORIN / AFP) (Photo credit should read FREDERICK FLORIN/AFP/Getty Images)
A military looks on in the streets of Strasbourg, eastern France, after a shooting breakout, on December 11, 2018. – One person has been killed and ten people injured in a shooting today near a Christmas market in the eastern French city of Strasbourg, police said, adding that the suspected gunman was on the run. (Photo by Frederick FLORIN / AFP) (Photo credit should read FREDERICK FLORIN/AFP/Getty Images)
Policemen walk in the streets of Strasbourg, eastern France, after a shooting breakout, on December 11, 2018. – One person has been killed and ten people injured in a shooting today near a Christmas market in the eastern French city of Strasbourg, police said, adding that the suspected gunman was on the run. (Photo by Frederick FLORIN / AFP) (Photo credit should read FREDERICK FLORIN/AFP/Getty Images)
A military stands in the streets of Strasbourg, eastern France, after a shooting breakout, on December 11, 2018. – One person has been killed and ten people injured in a shooting today near a Christmas market in the eastern French city of Strasbourg, police said, adding that the suspected gunman was on the run. (Photo by Frederick FLORIN / AFP) (Photo credit should read FREDERICK FLORIN/AFP/Getty Images)
UPDATE 2055 — Two dead
Wire service AFP now reports that two have died and 11 were injured in the Strasbourg shooting, and that police are investigating a potential terror motive.
Strasbourg: deux morts et onze blessés en urgence absolue, “piste terroriste évoquée”, selon la police et la préfecture #AFP
— Agence France-Presse (@afpfr) December 11, 2018
UPDATE 2045 — Ten injured
Franceinfo reports the number of injured has risen to ten, and a knife, as well as a firearm, was involved in the attack according to cited sources “close to the investigation”. Police have now identified the shooter but not made that information public.
https://twitter.com/DamienRieu/status/1072593040349585409
UPDATE 2030 — Shooter still on the run
As reported by employees live tweeting the shooting from within the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the assailant is still at large France’s Le Figaro now reports. The newspaper also claims the number of people injured in the shooting has now risen to six.
Reports circulating on social media that there has been more than one fatality in Strasbourg and even multiple shooters have not been confirmed by French authorities, or even reported in the French press.
Read the original story below
No further details including the status of the shooter have been yet released by authorities.
The French fire brigade confirmed that one had been killed in the shooting, which Le Figaro reports may have involved an automatic weapon, with early reports conflicting over how many were injured, with claims in french media ranging from three to nine.
The shooting took place by the Place Keber square, by the city’s annual Christmas market.
European Parliament has activated emergency protocol. We are currently in lockdown to safeguard people here. Stay safe and inside. #Strasbourg #Terrorism https://t.co/WcOYqx11X4
— Eva Kaili (@EvaKaili) December 11, 2018
#Strasbourg Plusieurs personnes au sol, tireur en fuite (Confirmation officielle de la sécurité du Parlement EU)
Nous restons cachés depuis les premiers tirs Grand Rue— Emmanuel Foulon (@efoulon1) December 11, 2018
British state broadcaster the BBC cites a local journalist who reported a dozen shots having been fired.
Unverified videos uploaded to the Twitter microblogging platform showed residents running and screaming in fear, and injured people lying on the city pavements.
Several staff members of the European Parliament in the city have also taken to Twitter to describe the scene, with press officer Emmanuel Foulon reporting to have heard “the sound of shots”, and to have been told by security that the shooter is still at large.
Greek member of the European Parliament Eva Kaili meanwhile wrote: “European Parliament has activated emergency protocol. We are currently in lockdown to safeguard people here.”
Événement grave de sécurité publique en cours à #Strasbourg. Les habitants sont invités à rester chez eux. Plus d’informations à venir, suivez les consignes des autorités. pic.twitter.com/5t7offxqQ0
— Ministère de l’Intérieur – Alerte (@Beauvau_Alerte) December 11, 2018
from Viral Update News https://ift.tt/2QqC1Nx
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