Strasbourg Shooting: Gunman At Large After Three Killed And 12 Injured

-
Pater Fritz describes hearing gunshots and helping a victim of the Strasbourg shooting
Hundreds of police officers are hunting a gunman after three people were killed and 12 others wounded in a shooting in the eastern French city of Strasbourg.

The suspect, who is known to security services, escaped after exchanging fire with soldiers and armed police on Tuesday. He is believed to be injured.

The shooting happened close to a popular Christmas market near one of the central squares, Place Kléber.

France's counter terrorism prosecutor has opened an investigation.

However the motive for the incident remains unclear.

"He fought twice with our security forces," French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said.
French police stand guard near the scene of a shooting in Strasbourg, eastern France, 11 December 2018 Armed police secure the area after the deadly shooting incident on Tuesday
Confirming that three people had died, Mr Castaner said that border controls had been strengthened and security at all Christmas markets would be stepped up, with 350 security agents hunting for the gunman.

He added that France had raised its security alert level to "emergency attack".

Six of those reportedly injured on Tuesday were said to be in a serious condition, while six others suffered light injuries, police said.

Police added that the 29-year-old suspect was born in Strasbourg and was already known to the security services as a possible terrorist threat.
French police officers inspect the deadly shooting site at the Christmas market in Strasbourg, France, 11 December 2018 Police searched the narrow streets near the Christmas market in Strasbourg
According to France's BFM TV the man had fled his flat in the Neudorf district of the city on Tuesday morning as it was being searched by police in connection with a robbery.

Grenades were found during the search.
Residents in Neudorf were urged to stay indoors following unconfirmed reports that the suspect had been tracked down and cornered by police in the area.

The European Parliament, which is nearby, was placed on lockdown. The parliament's president, Antonio Tajani, tweeted to say it would "not be intimidated by terrorist or criminal attacks".

Presentational white space
French President Emmanuel Macron, who had attended a crisis meeting with cabinet officials in Paris, later tweeted that the "solidarity of the entire nation" was with Strasbourg, the victims and their families.

Panic in the city

The attack unfolded at around 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT) close to Strasbourg's famed Christmas market, which attracts thousands of visitors at this time of year.

Eyewitness Pater Fritz told the BBC he heard gunfire and found a person who had been shot, lying on a bridge. He said he tried to resuscitate him but the man died.

"There are no ambulance services able to enter the area, apparently," he said, adding: "After 45 minutes we stopped the resuscitation [attempt], because a doctor told us on the phone that it was senseless."
Map shows the location of Place Kléber in Strasbourg
Another eyewitness, who gave his name as Fatih, told AFP news agency that after the shots were fired there was "pandemonium" on the streets.

"People were running everywhere," he said.
Local journalist Bruno Poussard wrote on Twitter that there had been a dozen shots fired on his street in the city centre - one or two to begin with, then in bursts.

Emmanuel Foulon, a press officer for the European Parliament, wrote that there was "panic" in the centre following the sound of gunfire and that police with guns were running through the streets.

A shopkeeper told BFM TV: "There were gun shots and people running everywhere. It lasted about 10 minutes."

British MEP Richard Corbett tweeted that he was in a restaurant in the city and the doors had been locked.
Presentational white space
The mayor of Strasbourg, Roland Ries, later tweeted that the Christmas market would be closed on Wednesday following events.

He added that flags would be lowered to half-mast at the local Town Hall, where people could to pay their respects in a book of condolences.

BBC

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I'm Grateful To God For Sustaining Us, Says Hon. Benedicta Ebuehi In Her Valediction

-
Image
  By Suleiman Ugbokhe Hon. (Mrs) Benedicta Ebuehi, Executive Chairman of Etsako East addressing the gathering For the Executive Chairman of Etsako East local Government Area, Hon. (Mrs) Benedicta Ebuehi, it was a historic occasion for the outpouring of emotions and an in dept stocktaking as the number one citizen of the council area as she gave her valedictory speech before the management and staff as well as appointees and stakeholders of the local government. She thanked God that the entire staff of Etsako East local government area were gathered together for the occasion, even as some who started the administration with them three years ago were not present due to either ill health or death. A cross section of staff of the local government area at the valedictory gathering "The fact that we are alive, we give all the glory to God Almighty. We started the tenure together three years ago and we are still here, ending it together. To God be all the glory." Sticking to her fam...
Read more

Imiegba And Children Of Pa Akubo Esuka Celebrate His Enthronement As Ódegbé

-
Image
  By Suleiman Ugbokhe Pa Akubo Yakubu Esuka, the Ódegbé of Imiegba Imiegba Community, Three Ivie Clan in Etsako East local government area was in a celebration mode on Sunday, December 27, 2020, when the indigenes both home and abroad joined the children of Pa Akubo Yakubu Esuka to celebrate his enthronement as the Ódegbé of Imiegba. Pa. Akubo Yakubu Esuka was born to the family of Mr. Esuka and Madam Ogenikho about 104 years ago in Imiegba. In his quest for a better life, he left his birth place, Imiegba, in 1944, with his maternal uncle, Pa Etsekhumhe Ogweli for Minna where he did manial jobs for some time before he left for Kaduna with a single mission: To join the army. But it turned out to be mission impossible as Pa Akubo was not accepted into the army "for reasons I don't know," he says. "I then proceeded to Kano from Kaduna with the hope of securing a job. I was still not able to get a job." As the saying goes, 'no place like home,' Pa Akubo had ...
Read more

Hon. Benedicta Ebuehi Felicitates With Gov Obaseki On Fifth Anniversary

-
Image
  By Suleiman Ugbokhe His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki, Executive Governor, Edo State The immediate past Executive Chairman of Etsako East local government area, Hon. (Princess) Benedicta Ebuehi has congratulated His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki on the occasion of his fifth anniversary as the Executive Governor of Edo state. In a statement personally signed by her and made available to newsmen, Hon. Ebuehi stated that ”It is heartwarming that your coming into office as Executive Governor of Edo state five years ago has transformed the state into a viable tier of government whose policies and programmes have continued to attract admiration and consultancy from your counterparts in other states of the federation." The erstwhile council boss noted that even in the choice of personnel to help drive the policies and programmes of the administration of the 'Heartbeat of the Nation,' Governor Godwin Obaseki has been meticulous, which has resulted in a peaceful, harmonious and seam...
Read more