French authorities have revealed that the Strasbourg shooter who opened fire at the crowded Strasbourg Christmas market, on Tuesday, is potential terror threat and is on the country’s national security list
Late in the evening, on Tuesday, a gunman opened fire at the City Centre in Strasbourg. The location was quite crowded as many were out enjoying the Christmas market, police said three civilians were killed and thirteen injured in the attack. The authorities have now revealed that the shooter is a heinous criminal listed on the national security list as a potential terror threat.
Prior to the Strasbourg shooting, the gunman was a suspect in an armed robbery and attempt to murder. Secretary of State for the Interior Ministry, Laurent Nuñez, said the inability to arrest the gunman could have been one reason for the attack. The Interior Minister, Christophe Castaner added, the suspect is a “notorious” criminal.
According to the Interior Ministry Secretary, “Right now, the terrorist motive for this attack has not been established, and I would advise extreme caution over this. The hunt is taking place and the priority is to find this attacker.”
Soon after the attack, French police blocked many roads into and out of the city. The Interior Minister, on Wednesday, announced that France was now on high-security alert.
The attack added to the French distress amid weeks of civil unrest caused by the Yellow Vest protests.