Strasbourg Christmas Market Terror Incident Leaves Three Dead, 12 Wounded
- Details
- Category: World News - Europe
- Published on Wednesday, 12 December 2018 10:59
- Written by Olivier Longhi
The terrorist attack in Strasbourg (eastern France) is believed to be the work of a radicalized offender. Three people died as a result of this attack, twelve others wounded. The Vigipirate plan was raised at the emergency level.
The suspect, 29-year-old Strasbourg resident, Chérif Chekatt., who has a lengthy arrest record, and has already been convicted more than two dozens times for common law offenses.
He has also been arrested by State Security and known and followed by the Directorate General of Internal Security (DGSI) and on France's Terror Watchlist.
He is the sole author of the terrorist attack that took place last December 11 at the heart of the Christmas Market in Strasbourg, in eastern France.
France Macron and France Yellow Vests
At this time still on the run, the man with an automatic pistol during the attack, was foiled by the police who patrolled the scene to kill three people and injure twelve others. Seized of the case, the Paris prosecutor's office opened an investigation for "assassinations, attempted murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise" and "criminal terrorist criminal conspiracy".
Radicalized, the individual, actively sought by the Police, also confronted the soldiers of Operation Sentinel engaged in the framework of the Vigipirate Plan via several exchanged shots that wounded his arm.
In order to escape the security forces, the attacker then fled with the help of a taxi. Another exchange of shootings, the suspect of which was still at the origin, took place near the police station of Strasbourg.
Criminal Record and Search
"His criminal record includes 27 convictions for acts committed in France, Germany and Switzerland" * said Remy Heitz, the Prosecutor of Paris. At the same time, "four other relatives of the mis en cause were placed in police custody that night," he added.
The Islamic State and The Façade of Civility
Worried about a possible flight of the suspect to border Germany, the authorities have tightened their controls along the Rhine and remain on maximum alert throughout the country.
It should be noted that the shooter's residence was the subject of a search carried out that morning in a case totally different from that which now occupies the investigators but which resulted in the discovery of several weapons and a grenade.
Immediate consequence of this attack on the Christmas Market in Strasbourg the recovery Plan Vigipirate at the level "emergency bombing".
Finally, it should be noted that the investigations were entrusted to the Anti-Terrorism Sub-Directorate (SDAT), the Inter-regional Directorate of the Judicial Police (DIPI) of Strasbourg and the DGSI. *
Sources: lemonde.fr - (theMonde.fr - 12.12.2018)
