STRASBOURG – A manhunt is underway on Wednesday in France for a known criminal who opened fire at a Christmas market in Strasbourg killing three people and injuring over a dozen.
Hundreds of security personnel were deployed in the city to hunt the suspect while the French government has raised security alert, besides reinforcing border controls.
Interior Minister Castaner said that around 350 security persons, including police, army men, have been assigned the task to trace him.
The killer opened fire at around 8pm Place Kléber near the Christmas market, which is visited by millions of tourists every year.
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Soldiers patrolling the area as part of regular anti-terror operations exchanged fire with the attacker and injured him, but he managed to escape from the scene. A soldier was also wounded during the gun battle.
The suspect has been identified and was on a watchlist of suspected extremists, a statement from local security services said.
The interior ministry termed the incident as a “serious security event” and directed the people to avoid visiting the market.
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President Emmanuel Macron expressed the solidarity of the whole nation after holding an emergency meeting with cabinet officials in Paris following the deadly shooting.
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In 2016, a 23-year-old Tunisian killed 12 and injured 48 others when he rammed a truck into a Christmas market in Berlin. The attack was claimed by the Islamic State group.
