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Paris Shootout Leaves Police Officer and Gunman Dead Paris Shootout Leaves Police Officer and Gunman Dead
(35 minutes later)
PARIS — A gunman jumped out of a car, killed a police officer and wounded two others on the Champs-Élysées in central Paris on Thursday night, French officials said.PARIS — A gunman jumped out of a car, killed a police officer and wounded two others on the Champs-Élysées in central Paris on Thursday night, French officials said.
The gunman was shot dead by the police as he tried to flee on foot, Pierre-Henry Brandet, a French Interior Ministry spokesman, told the BFMTV news channel.The gunman was shot dead by the police as he tried to flee on foot, Pierre-Henry Brandet, a French Interior Ministry spokesman, told the BFMTV news channel.
President François Hollande, addressing the nation from from the Élysée presidential palace not far from where the shooting occurred, said that the French authorities were “convinced” that the shooting pointed to a terrorist act. President François Hollande, addressing the nation from the Élysée presidential palace, not far from where the shooting occurred, said that the French authorities were “convinced” that the shooting pointed to a terrorist act.
Mr. Brandet said that shortly before 9 p.m a car pulled up to a police vehicle that was parked on the famous boulevard. And, on Friday, the Islamic State issued a statement claiming responsibility for the shooting, which occurred just days before the first round of the French presidential election.
Mr. Brandet said that shortly before 9 p.m. a car pulled up to a police vehicle that was parked on the famous boulevard.
The man opened fire on the police vehicle with an automatic weapon, killing an officer. He then “tried to leave by running away while aiming at, and trying to target, other police officers,” Mr. Brandet said.The man opened fire on the police vehicle with an automatic weapon, killing an officer. He then “tried to leave by running away while aiming at, and trying to target, other police officers,” Mr. Brandet said.
“He managed to wound two others and was shot dead by the police forces,” Mr. Brandet added. It was not immediately known if anyone else was in the attacker’s car.“He managed to wound two others and was shot dead by the police forces,” Mr. Brandet added. It was not immediately known if anyone else was in the attacker’s car.
Mr. Brandet said that the exact sequence of events was still unclear, as was whether the assailant had acted alone. He denied reports that a second officer had died and said that the identity of the gunman had not been clearly established. The officers, he said, had been “deliberately targeted.”Mr. Brandet said that the exact sequence of events was still unclear, as was whether the assailant had acted alone. He denied reports that a second officer had died and said that the identity of the gunman had not been clearly established. The officers, he said, had been “deliberately targeted.”
Mr. Hollande said he would convene a national security meeting on Friday morning and that a national tribute would be paid to the slain officer.Mr. Hollande said he would convene a national security meeting on Friday morning and that a national tribute would be paid to the slain officer.
“We must all be aware that our security forces do work that is particularly difficult, that they are exposed, as one can see again this evening, and that they have the nation’s full support,” Mr. Hollande said.“We must all be aware that our security forces do work that is particularly difficult, that they are exposed, as one can see again this evening, and that they have the nation’s full support,” Mr. Hollande said.
Mr. Hollande said that a passerby had also been wounded in the shooting, but he did not say how badly or provide other details. Mr. Hollande said that a passer-by had also been wounded in the shooting, but he did not say how badly or provide other details.
The owner of a restaurant on the Champs-Élysées, who would only give his name as Denis, told France 24 television by phone that when the shooting started, a panicked crowd of some 40 people ran into his restaurant for shelter.The owner of a restaurant on the Champs-Élysées, who would only give his name as Denis, told France 24 television by phone that when the shooting started, a panicked crowd of some 40 people ran into his restaurant for shelter.
“Some of them were in shock, others were crying,” he said. Several of the people were tourists from the United States, Hong Kong and elsewhere. “They were scared,” he said. “They didn’t know what to do, or when it would end. They came here for holidays and didn’t expect this to happen. I’m a little shocked myself and we’re trying to cope with that.”“Some of them were in shock, others were crying,” he said. Several of the people were tourists from the United States, Hong Kong and elsewhere. “They were scared,” he said. “They didn’t know what to do, or when it would end. They came here for holidays and didn’t expect this to happen. I’m a little shocked myself and we’re trying to cope with that.”
The Islamic State statement, on the group’s Amaq news agency, was published first in Arabic and later in French. Citing a “source,” it said that the attack was the work of someone named Abu Yousuf al-Belgiki, “who is one of the soldiers of the Caliphate.”
The terror group, also known as ISIS and ISIL, has generally been careful to only claim attacks carried out by radicalized Muslims, but it does not distinguish between plots directly carried out by its fighters and those inspired by its ideology.
“The speed with which IS claimed responsibility is surprising,” said Peter Neumann, a counterterrorism expert and professor of Security Studies at the Department of War Studies at King’s College London. “The attacker being from Belgium highlights the closeness of the Belgian-French network that carried out the Paris-Brussels attacks,” he added, referring to assaults in those cities.
”It seems prepared and coordinated,” Mr. Neumann added, noting that the Islamic State claim was in multiple languages, “like they knew this was going to happen.”
The French news media reported that officials had issued an arrest warrant for a suspect who had arrived by train from Belgium. The attackers who carried out the attack in Paris on Nov. 13, 2015, that left 130 people dead came from Belgium.
In Washington, President Trump offered “our condolences from our country to the people of France.”In Washington, President Trump offered “our condolences from our country to the people of France.”
Mr. Trump, at a White House briefing with Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni of Italy, said that the shooting “looks like another terrorist attack. And what can you say — it just never ends. We have to be strong and we have to be vigilant. And I’ve been saying it for a long time.”Mr. Trump, at a White House briefing with Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni of Italy, said that the shooting “looks like another terrorist attack. And what can you say — it just never ends. We have to be strong and we have to be vigilant. And I’ve been saying it for a long time.”
The French presidential candidates quickly reacted to the shooting on Twitter. François Fillon, the conservative candidate for the Republican party, praised “security forces who give their life to protect ours,” while Marine Le Pen, the far-right candidate, said police officers were “once again targeted.” The French presidential candidates quickly reacted to the shooting on Twitter. François Fillon, the conservative candidate for the Republicans party, praised “security forces who give their life to protect ours,” while Marine Le Pen, the far-right candidate, said police officers were “once again targeted.”
The campaigns of both Mr. Fillon and Ms. Le Pen said they had cancelled all events scheduled for Friday. The campaigns of both Mr. Fillon and Ms. Le Pen said they had canceled all events scheduled for Friday.
The shooting occurred near the George V metro stop, not far from the Arc de Triomphe that sits at the top of the boulevard, which is lined with luxury stores, restaurants, movie theaters and tourist spots. The shooting occurred near the George V Métro stop, not far from the Arc de Triomphe at the top of the boulevard, which is lined with luxury stores, restaurants, movie theaters and tourist spots.
Security forces quickly descended en masse on the Champs-Élysées and sealed off the area, which remained off-limits shortly before midnight. Nearby Métro stations were also closed.Security forces quickly descended en masse on the Champs-Élysées and sealed off the area, which remained off-limits shortly before midnight. Nearby Métro stations were also closed.
The shooting heightened fears in a city already on edge days before the start of presidential elections. The country has been plagued not only by well-planned terrorist assaults, like the one in November 2015 that left 130 people dead in and around Paris; and the massacre at the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in January of that year, but by small-scale attacks by lone killers. The shooting heightened fears in a city already on edge days before the the election. The country has been plagued not only by well-planned terrorist assaults, like the one in November 2015; and the massacre at the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in January of that year, but by small-scale attacks by lone killers.
Voters in France go to the polls on Sunday for the first round of the election. The shooting occurred even as the presidential candidates were appearing on television to make their final arguments to voters. Voters in France go to the polls on Sunday for the first round of the election. The shooting occurred even as the candidates were appearing on television to make their final arguments to voters.
Two men were arrested in the southern city of Marseille this week on suspicions that they were preparing an attack to disrupt the campaign.Two men were arrested in the southern city of Marseille this week on suspicions that they were preparing an attack to disrupt the campaign.
In his address late Thursday, Mr. Hollande vowed that the authorities would maintain an “absolute vigilance” during the elections.In his address late Thursday, Mr. Hollande vowed that the authorities would maintain an “absolute vigilance” during the elections.