A gunman has opened fire near a Christmas market in the French city of Strasbourg, killing at least four people and injuring 10 others, officials and witnesses say. It is being treated as an act of terrorism.
The attack began at about 8 p.m. local time on Tuesday when a man opened fire in the city center, where one of Europe’s biggest Christmas markets is taking place. People were seen running and screaming in video shared on social media.
Soldiers who were guarding the Christmas market exchanged fire with the suspect, who was later identified as a 29-year-old man. He was already known to intelligence services and was on a watchlist as a possible security risk.
The suspect fled the scene and a massive manhunt was ongoing on early Wednesday morning. People in the area are urged to shelter in place and the seat of the European Parliament was put on lockdown.
Strasbourg Mayor Roland Ries confirmed that 4 people were killed in the shooting and 10 others were injured, including several people who suffered serious injuries. He said the Christmas market will be closed on Wednesday.
A motive for Tuesday’s attack was not immediately known, but investigators are treating it as an act of terrorism. French media reported that police tried to arrest the suspect earlier on Tuesday and grenades were found at his home.
France has experienced a number of terrorist attacks in recent years. In November 2015, a group of ISIS militants opened fire at restaurants and a music venue in Paris, killing 130 people and injuring hundreds more, making it the deadliest attack in France since the end of World War II.
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