Wednesday, December 12, 2018

2018 Strasbourg terrorist attack

 2018 Strasbourg terrorist attack --- ===






*Sources

Revealed: Strasbourg suspect, 29, had a violent past, was tagged a 'threat to the state' by authorities and escaped arrest just HOURS before carnage at Christmas market
Cherif Chekatt opened fire at Strasbourg's Christmas Market at 8pm last night
At least three people have been killed and a further 12 injured, six seriously
The gunman was injured in a police shootout and fled the scene in a hijacked taxi
Police have said the was on a security watchlist that identified him as a threat
The 29-year-old was born and raised in Strasbourg and has a criminal record   By JOEL ADAMS FOR MAILONLINE  12 December 2018
... is a convicted criminal who had been identified as a threat to the French state by the security services. Cherif Chekatt, a 29-year-old native of the city, born on February 4, 1989. ... criminal record for robberies  was sentenced to two years in prison in 2011 for a knife attack on a 16-year-old...  Police knocked at his door only yesterday morning to arrest him in connection with a violent robbery.  following up a lead connected to his past criminal behaviour, rather than acting on any intelligence that he planned to commit mass murder. He was not at home, but investigators found a grenade among his belongings.  after Tuesday morning's failed raid the suspect 'went on the run'.  More here.


Strasbourg shooting: Terror suspect 'may have crossed into Germany ...telegraph  Twitter ... What are we waiting for to finally wage war to eradicate Islamic fundamentalism ...

Chérif Chekatt: Everything you need to know about Strasbourg terror ... Telegraph  profile matches that of self-styled “jihadists” who have carried out other attacks in France.  Born in Strasbourg, he is a French citizen and has some 27 convictions in France, Germany and Switzerland to his name,  29-year-old Chérif Chekatt has been on France's “S” file terrorist watch list since ... attempts to convert fellow-inmates to a radical form of Islam.  2016, he was released from prison in Germany and, before the attack on Tuesday night, was wanted in connection with an attempted murder and an armed robbery,  raided Mr Chekatt's home and found grenades, a .22 firearm and two hunting knives, but failed to capture him. Five associates were, however, detained. further jail term in Germany for robbing a dental practice and a pharmacy, and was deported to France last year after completing his sentence.  placed him under "active" surveillance following his release from a French prison in 2015,  trying to establish whether Mr Chekatt travelled to Syria or Iraq to join an Islamist group, or whether he was radicalised entirely in France, unemployed since 2011

On 11 December 2018, at 19:50, a terrorist attack occurred in Strasbourg, France, when a man opened fire at the Christkindelsmärik.[3][4][5] By 07:00, the next day, three people had died, while 13 were wounded, eight severely.[1][6][7] At 12:00, six of the wounded were in critical states, fighting for their lives. The shooter left the area by taxi and remains at large.[8]

Background[edit]

The Christkindelsmärik is the Christmas market in Strasbourg, held annually on the square in front of the Strasbourg Cathedral since 1570.[9][10] In 2000, a bombing plotwas foiled by the French and German police: the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat had planned to detonate pressure cookers rigged as homemade bombs in the crowd at the Christkindelsmärik. Since then, the market has been under reinforced security,[11] and subject of several suspected or actual attack attempts.[12]In 2016, when several people were arrested in Marseille and Strasbourg for preparing a terrorist attack, cancelling the Christmas market was considered, although it eventually took place.[13]

Incident[edit]

On the morning of 11 December 2018, the police raided the home of the suspect in Neudorf; he was not home, but the police found a fragmentation grenade, a loaded .22 long rifle, four knives (including two hunting knives) and ammunition in his apartment.[10][14][15]
The incident started at around 19:50 local time (18:50 GMT),[16] near Place Kléber, where the Christkindelsmärik was being held.[15] The shooter entered the scene through Pont du Corbeau, went through Rue des Orfèvres opening fire in three different locations, first at Carré-d'Or (rue des Orfèvres), then rue des Grandes-Arcades.[7] After crying "Allahu Akbar" as he shot at the crowd, he exchanged fire with soldiers of Opération Sentinelle, and then of the National Police;[7] a soldier was hit in the hand, and the gunman was himself shot in the arm.[7] [17][18] A 45-year old Thai tourist[7] was hit in the head in front of a restaurant and died in spite of first aid provided by patrons.[10] The shooter then escaped in direction of Neudorf and Place de l'Étoile, taking a taxi cab; the driver escaped unharmed and reported to the police having taken an armed and wounded man;[7] his testimony allowed the police to identify the gunman.[8]
The incident led to the the closure of locations around the city including the European Parliament building.[19] Police used Twitter to relay information to the public.[19] The shooter remains at large,[15] with 350 men of the security forces (RAID, BRI and Sentinelle) hunting for him, supported by air units.[6][7]
The French government raised their security threat level to the highest possible as the search for the gunman continued,[20]although Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet stated on Public Sénat that a state of emergency would not be declared for the occasion.[7] 5000 people were stranded in a sports facility used as temporary shelter, and the European Parliament was put on lockdown.[10] Its President, Antonio Tajani, tweeted that "[the European Parliament] will not be intimidated by terrorist or criminal attacks [and will] continue to work and react, strengthened by freedom and democracy against terrorist violence."[21]
The incident was declared an act of terrorism by French authorities.[22]

Victims[edit]


The shooter entered the Old town of Strasbourg on Rue du Vieux Marché aux Poissons, coming from Pont du Corbeau (picture from Christmas 2014)
Three people were killed at the scene while 12 others were injured, 6 in critical condition.[6]The dead victims has been identified as: a 45-year-old tourist from Thailand who was on holiday with his wife, a man from Strasbourg and a man from Afghanistan who has been left brain-dead.[23][24]

Suspect[edit]

The suspect, 29-year-old Strasbourg-born man of Moroccan heritage, Cherif Chekatt,[25][2][15] was known to the security services in France, Germany and Switzerland for 27 petty crimes;[8] after his release from prison in France in 2015, he received a prison sentence for theft in Singen (Baden-Württemberg) and was expelled to France after his release in 2017.[26]
He was tagged with a fiche "S" ("State Security" file), a type of extra-judiciary document that French State security uses to keep trace of suspect individuals, for his recent "religious radicalisation";[20][27][17] however, Laurent Nuñez, Secretary of State to the Interior Minister, explicitly stated that the suspect was known for involvement in terrorist activities.[26]
An investigation has been started for "murder and acts of terrorism in relation to a criminal enterprise".[10] Four people close to the suspect were detained for questioning after the shooting.[8]

Reactions[edit]

President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel reacted the same day on Twitter, expressing condolences;[28] Juncker called Strasbourg "a city of symbol of European peace and democracy"[29] and Bettel, a "symbol of European values".[30] British Prime Minister Theresa May said that her "thoughts are with all of those affected and with the French people".[10]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Jump up to:a b Bas-Rhin, Préfet de la région Grand-Est et du (12 December 2018). "Merci de ne pas tenir compte du communiqué de presse qui vous a été transmis au titre du point de situation de 10h00, nul et non avenu, le dernier bilan ayant été communiqué par @NunezLaurent, secrétaire d'État auprès du ministre de l'Intérieur, ce matin sur France Inter à 8H20.pic.twitter.com/ttyeAqpzbn" (in French).
  2. ^ Jump up to:a b "At least two dead, 11 wounded in Strasbourg shooting". RTE.ie. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  3. ^ "Strasbourg shooting: gunman was listed as potential terror threat". The Guardian. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018. Witnesses said the man shouted “Allah Akbar” as he shot into the crowds and slashed at passersby with a knife.
  4. ^ "Strasbourg attack : witnesses heard the assailant yell "Allah Akbar"". Europe 1 (in French). 12 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018. Selon le procureur de Paris, des témoins ont entendu l'assaillant crier "Allah Akbar" lors de la fusillade à Strasbourg, mardi soir.
  5. ^ "Des témoins ont entendu le suspect crier "Allah Akbar"" (in French). 12 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  6. ^ Jump up to:a b c "Communiqué de presse". Point de situation n°4 à 03h30, Préfecture du Bas-Rhin (in French). Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  7. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g h "Fusillade à Strasbourg, en direct : trois morts, la France en « urgence attentat »". Le Monde (in French). 12 December 2018.
  8. ^ Jump up to:a b c d "Fusillade à Strasbourg, en direct : « Le terrorisme a une nouvelle fois frappé notre territoire »". Le Monde (in French). 12 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  9. ^ "Un attentat déjoué après l'arrestation de 7 personnes à Strasbourg et Marseille". L'Humanité (in French). 21 November 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  10. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e f "Strasbourg Christmas market shooting: suspect on the run after three killed". The Guardian. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  11. ^ "Fusillade sur le Marché de Noël de Strasbourg: deux morts et treize blessés, le tireur "identifié" en fuite". L'Express (in French). 11 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  12. ^ "Strasbourg : la place Kléber évacuée après une alerte à la bombe, l'auteur interpellé". France Bleue (in French). 2017.
  13. ^ "Un attentat envisagé « de longue date » déjoué en France". Le Monde (in French). 21 November 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  14. ^ "Gunman kills at least four people in French Christmas market". Reuters. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December2018.
  15. ^ Jump up to:a b c d "Strasbourg gunman hunted after two killed". 11 December 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  16. ^ Ministère de l'Intérieur. "Attaque aux abords du marché de Noël de Strasbourg" (in French). Retrieved 12 December2018.
  17. ^ Jump up to:a b Willsher, Kim (11 December 2018). "Strasbourg shooting: at least two killed in terrorist attack near Christmas market". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  18. ^ "Fusillade à Strasbourg, en direct : trois morts, la France en « urgence attentat »". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  19. ^ Jump up to:a b Zwirz, Elizabeth (11 December 2018). "France 'terror' shooting leaves 4 dead, multiple injured with gunman on the run: officials". Fox News. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  20. ^ Jump up to:a b Samuel, Henry; Chazan, David; Ward, Victoria (11 December 2018). "Strasbourg shooting: At least four dead, several seriously injured in attack at Christmas market - latest news". The Telegraph.
  21. ^ Tajani, Antonio (11 December 2018). "I express all my sorrow for the victims of the Strasbourg attacks. 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". Retrieved 12 December2018.
  22. ^ "France Declares Strasbourg Shooting to Be an Act of Terrorism". New York Times. 12 December 2018.
  23. ^ "Attaque de Strasbourg : qui sont les victimes?" (in French). Retrieved 2018-12-12.
  24. ^ "Deux Vosgiens blessés lors de la fusillade à Strasbourg"(in French). Retrieved 2018-12-12.
  25. ^ "Fusillade à Strasbourg : ce que l'on sait du tireur du marché de Noël". L'Obs (in French). Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  26. ^ Jump up to:a b "Fusillade à Strasbourg, en direct : « Le terrorisme a une nouvelle fois frappé notre territoire »". Le Monde (in French). 12 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  27. ^ "Strasbourg Christmas market shooting: Gunman injures multiple people". www.news.com.au.
  28. ^ L'essentiel. "Juncker et Bettel réagissent sur Twitter". L'essentiel (in French). Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  29. ^ Juncker, Jean-Claude (11 December 2018). "Mes pensées sont avec les victimes de la fusillade de Strasbourg que je condamne avec grande fermeté. Strasbourg est par excellence une ville symbole de la paix & de la démocratie européennes. Des valeurs que nous défendrons toujours. La Commission se tient aux côtés de la France" (in French). Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  30. ^ Bettel, Xavier (11 December 2018). "Toutes nos pensées ce soir sont avec les victimes de la fusillade de Strasbourg et avec leurs proches. Je suis choqué, je condamne cet acte et je confirme notre solidarité et notre amitié avec la France et avec Strasbourg, ville qui est symbole des valeurs européennes"(in French). Retrieved 12 Dec mber 2018.

Strasbourg Christmas market terror attacker shouted 'Allahu Akbar' sky Cherif Chekatt, 29, is still on the run after the attack


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