A 29-year-old extremist suspected of killing two people near a Christmas market in Strasbourg shouted “God is great” as he opened fire.
By Associated Press Reporters
December 12 2018 2:32 PM
A 29-year-old extremist suspected of killing two people near a Christmas market in Strasbourg shouted “God is great” as he opened fire.
A massive manhunt is under way for Cherif Chekatt after the shooting which left another person brain dead and 12 injured.
Prosecutor Remy Heitz said witnesses heard the gunman shout Allahu Akbar – God is Great in Arabic – during chaotic scenes in the city in eastern France.
One of those killed was named as Thai national Anupong Suebsamarn, 45, who had been on holiday in France with his wife.
They had reportedly planned to be in Paris but the yellow vest protests in the capital caused them to change their itinerary and go to Strasbourg instead.
A young Italian radio journalist who was in the city to cover a session of the European Parliament was critically injured. Antonio Megalizzi, who works for the Europhonica radio consortium linked to universities, was shot in the head.
Mr Heitz said the gunman was shot in the arm during an exchange of fire with soldiers before taking a taxi to another part of the city. He said Chekatt was armed with a handgun and a knife.
He also said police found a grenade, a rifle and four knives during a search on Tuesday morning of Chekatt’s house in an investigation over an attempted murder.
Police union officials said that Chekatt had a long criminal record for offences including armed robbery and that he was monitored as a suspected religious radical by the French intelligence services.
A judicial official said that Chekatt’s father and two brothers were among four people taken into custody as part of the investigation.
He said other members of Cherkatt’s family are known for radical views.
Interior minister Christophe Castaner said 720 officers are hunting for the gunman and the French government has increased its security alert system Vigipirate to its highest level.
