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'Islamic terrorism’: 3 killed, 16 injured, gunman shot dead in France after shooting & hostage situa 'Islamic terrorism’: 3 killed, 16 injured, gunman dead in France after shooting & hostage situation
(35 minutes later)
Three people were killed and 16 others injured in an attack by a lone gunman in southern France, French President Emmanuel Macron has said, calling the act ‘Islamic terrorism.’Three people were killed and 16 others injured in an attack by a lone gunman in southern France, French President Emmanuel Macron has said, calling the act ‘Islamic terrorism.’
UPDATE: Paris says supermarket attacker known only for petty crimes as ISIS claims responsibilityUPDATE: Paris says supermarket attacker known only for petty crimes as ISIS claims responsibility
The gunman, reportedly of Moroccan origin, first opened fire at four police officers in the historic town of Carcassonne on Friday morning. He later stormed a supermarket in the nearby town of Trebes, taking numerous hostages. Macron said the investigators will look into Islamic State's (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) claim of responsibility for the attack. They will also try to establish how the perpetrator, identified as 26-year-old Redouane Lakdim, became radicalized and how he obtained a gun. Lakdim had a criminal record, but was only known to police for being a petty thief and a drug dealer, while they knew of no jihadist links.
The man is also suspected of killing the driver of the car in Carcassonne and stealing his vehicle before the hostage-taking, according to reports in French media. The passenger of the vehicle was taken to hospital in a critical condition. Macron also praised the heroism of a police officer, who offered himself in a hostage swap and was seriously injured, saying the officer “saved lives,” but is now himself in life-threatening condition.
The combined death toll of the shootings in Carcassonne and the hostage situation in Trebes has climbed to three, the French Interior Minister, Gerard Collomb, has confirmed. Police are now carrying out raids and searches in the districts around the town of Carcassonne, where Lakdim used to live, BFMTV reported.
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said that at least one police officer had been injured as a result of the attack. “The counterterrorism office has taken the case; all the information we have as I speak leads us to think that this would be a terrorist act,” Philippe told journalists.
According to Le Figaro newspaper, a 45-year-old lieutenant-colonel swapped himself in exchange for one of the hostages in a supermarket. The gunman, reportedly of Moroccan origin, first opened fire on four police officers in Carcassonne on Friday morning. He later stormed a supermarket in the nearby town of Trebes, taking numerous hostages.
Philippe also confirmed the incident in Carcassonne where four state police officers came under fire. “One of them was injured but is not in a life-threatening condition,” he said. Lakdim reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” as he made his way into the supermarket and demanded the release of Salah Abdeslam, the only surviving terrorist suspect behind the Paris attacks in 2015, who is now in prison awaiting trial.
According to French media, the perpetrator was known to intelligence services – particularly the General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI). The gunman is also suspected of killing the driver of a car in Carcassonne and stealing his vehicle before the hostage-taking. The passenger of the vehicle was taken to hospital in a critical condition.
The hostage-taker demanded the release of Salah Abdeslam, the only surviving terrorist suspect behind the Paris attacks, BFMTV said. Abdeslam is currently in prison awaiting trial for his alleged involvement in the 2015 Paris terrorist attacks. During the hostage crisis, a police officer swapped himself in exchange for one of the hostages in a supermarket. Le Figaro identified him as a 45-year-old lieutenant-colonel, adding he was able to keep his cell phone switched on while inside the shop, and remained in contact with the security forces during the standoff, which lasted several hours.
Elite French units eventually stormed the supermarket after they heard gunshots being fired inside, and killed Lakdim.