The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Police identify 29-year-old suspect in Strasbourg Christmas market shooting
Man believed to be responsible was known to security services
French police have identified a 29-yearold man suspected of carrying out a shooting near a Christmas market in Strasbourg.
Officials said Cherif Chekatt has a lengthy criminal record including several convictions for robbery.
Prosecutor Remy Heitz said witnesses heard the gunman shout “God is great” in Arabic during the shooting spree that left two people dead and 12 wounded.
Mr Heitz said the gunman was shot in the arm during an exchange of fire with soldiers and then took a taxi to another part of the city. He said the man was armed with a handgun and a knife.
Previously, French authorities said the gunman killed three people but Mr Heitz said two people were confirmed dead while the third was brain dead.
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 a suspected murder.
Authorities have launched a terror investigation, with interior minister Christophe Castaner saying 350 officers are hunting for the gunman who was known to security services.
Mr Castaner said the gunman, from Strasbourg, exchanged fire with law enforcement as he “sowed terror”.
Mr Castaner said: “350 police and gendarmes are currently on the ground to apprehend the suspect, supported by two helicopters, the RAID (French antiterror police), the BRI (anti-gang brigade) and the Sentinel force.
“The government has decided to move the security level to “Emergency Attack” with stricter controls at the borders, and the implementation of reinforced controls on all the Christmas markets that are taking place in France to avoid the risk of copycat attacks.”
He was said to have entered central Strasbourg via the Corbeau bridge to the south of the city centre, before heading to Rue des Orfevres, a popular shopping street close to the cathedral, where he opened fire at around 8pm local time (7pm GMT).
In the aftermath, residents were urged to stay indoors and the nearby European Parliament was placed on lockdown.
Antonio Tajani, president of the parliament, said: “This parliament will not be intimidated by terrorist or criminal attacks. Let us move on. We will continue to work and react strengthened by freedom and democracy against terrorist violence.”