French police kill suspect in Strasbourg shootout
FRENCH police have killed a suspect in their hunt for the alleged gunman who killed three people near a Christmas market in Strasbourg on Tuesday.
The shooting occurred in the Neudorf neighbourhood, where police conducted a search earlier yesterday for Cherif Chekatt.
The 29-year-old was born in Strasbourg and had been named as the suspected Christmas market gunman.
Tuesday’s attack left three people dead and wounded 13 others, including five who are in a serious condition.
More than 700 officers were involved in the manhunt for 29-yearold Cherif Chekatt and prosecutors have opened a terror investigation into Tuesday’s attack.
France’s interior minister said the prosecutor in charge of terror-related investigations was heading to the scene to confirm if the man killed by officers was the suspect.
Christophe Castaner said police had spotted an individual who matched the description of Chekatt.
More than 700 officers were involved in the manhunt for Chekatt, who had been flagged for extremism, government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux said.
The government had raised the terror alert level nationwide and deployed 1,800 additional soldiers across France to help patrol streets and secure crowded events.
Strasbourg has been in mourning, with candles lit and flowers left at the site of Tuesday’s attack. The Christmas market was closed again yesterday.
On Wednesday evening, people prayed and sang in the nearby Protestant Church Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune.
Pastor Philippe Eber said this is a moment “to think of those who died in this city because of violence.
“We also are thinking about all of those who weep for them, the families”.
Strasbourg resident Tassia Konstantinidis said “it’s important to have a period of mourning and to remember the victims”.
The dead included Thai tourist Anupong Suebsamarn, who was 45.
Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said one Italian was among the wounded, in critical condition.
The Europhonica radio consortium said Antonio Megalizzi, 28, was in Strasbourg to follow the session of the European Parliament when he was shot.
French authorities said the suspect, born in Strasbourg, had run-ins with police from the age of 10.