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| Police in France Hunt for Strasbourg Shooting Suspect, and a Motive | Police in France Hunt for Strasbourg Shooting Suspect, and a Motive |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| STRASBOURG, France — It remained unclear what motivated the gunman who opened fire at a crowded street market in Strasbourg, France, officials said Wednesday, as the police continued an intensive search for the attacker. | STRASBOURG, France — It remained unclear what motivated the gunman who opened fire at a crowded street market in Strasbourg, France, officials said Wednesday, as the police continued an intensive search for the attacker. |
| “The terrorist motivation of the act, as we speak, is not yet established,” said Laurent Nuñez, the deputy interior minister, although he cautioned that the investigation was still in its initial stages. | “The terrorist motivation of the act, as we speak, is not yet established,” said Laurent Nuñez, the deputy interior minister, although he cautioned that the investigation was still in its initial stages. |
| The attack on Tuesday night hit one of the most popular Christmas markets in France, unleashing chaos among the thousands of people milling around the temporary vendors’ chalets dotting Strasbourg’s historical neighborhood. The shooting recalled other attacks in recent years by the Islamist radicals in France, Belgium and other parts of Europe — but some witnesses wondered at first if the panic was related to the “Yellow Vest” protests that have paralyzed French cities in recent weeks. | The attack on Tuesday night hit one of the most popular Christmas markets in France, unleashing chaos among the thousands of people milling around the temporary vendors’ chalets dotting Strasbourg’s historical neighborhood. The shooting recalled other attacks in recent years by the Islamist radicals in France, Belgium and other parts of Europe — but some witnesses wondered at first if the panic was related to the “Yellow Vest” protests that have paralyzed French cities in recent weeks. |
| On Wednesday, the police said that three people were killed and 13 others wounded. | On Wednesday, the police said that three people were killed and 13 others wounded. |
| [Read more about the Christmas market attack in Strasbourg here.] | |
| The market remained closed on Wednesday, leaving the city center mostly empty and cordoned off by security forces. Sports centers, cultural institutions and many shops in the area were closed for the day. | The market remained closed on Wednesday, leaving the city center mostly empty and cordoned off by security forces. Sports centers, cultural institutions and many shops in the area were closed for the day. |
| “It might be the biggest Christmas market in France — you’d never think of an attack when you hear the first gunshots,” said Marc Meyer, 32, who said he was standing by the market’s Christmas tree when he saw a panicked crowd rushing toward him around 8 p.m. “You think of a street show, you think of some agitation from the Yellow Vests, but you don’t think that an attack is happening.” | “It might be the biggest Christmas market in France — you’d never think of an attack when you hear the first gunshots,” said Marc Meyer, 32, who said he was standing by the market’s Christmas tree when he saw a panicked crowd rushing toward him around 8 p.m. “You think of a street show, you think of some agitation from the Yellow Vests, but you don’t think that an attack is happening.” |
| Jamel Beli, who was sitting on a nearby terrace when he heard the first gunshots, also thought some Yellow Vest protesters were behind the agitation. “It was so, so crowded,” said Mr. Beli, 42. “It could very well have been carnage.” | Jamel Beli, who was sitting on a nearby terrace when he heard the first gunshots, also thought some Yellow Vest protesters were behind the agitation. “It was so, so crowded,” said Mr. Beli, 42. “It could very well have been carnage.” |
| Mr. Nuñez, speaking on France Inter radio, said that a 29-year-old suspect, whose name has not been made public, had an extensive criminal record — he was in prison as recently as 2015 — but had never been convicted of terrorism and did not appear to have tried to go to Syria. | Mr. Nuñez, speaking on France Inter radio, said that a 29-year-old suspect, whose name has not been made public, had an extensive criminal record — he was in prison as recently as 2015 — but had never been convicted of terrorism and did not appear to have tried to go to Syria. |
| “He had several stays in prison, and it is during those stays that was noticed a radicalization of the way he practiced” Islam, Mr. Nuñez said. He confirmed reports that the police had raided the suspect’s home Tuesday morning in an unrelated murder case, but he said that the theory that the raid had pushed him to act was only “a hypothesis among others.” | “He had several stays in prison, and it is during those stays that was noticed a radicalization of the way he practiced” Islam, Mr. Nuñez said. He confirmed reports that the police had raided the suspect’s home Tuesday morning in an unrelated murder case, but he said that the theory that the raid had pushed him to act was only “a hypothesis among others.” |
| The suspect is one of about 20,000 people flagged for possible radicalization by French security services, including by what is known is France as a Fiche S, or S File. | The suspect is one of about 20,000 people flagged for possible radicalization by French security services, including by what is known is France as a Fiche S, or S File. |
| Being flagged with such a file — the “S” stands for “la Sûreté de l’État,” or security of the state — does not mean that the person has been convicted of an offense or is even suspected of one. Instead, it is a way for French security forces to keep track of a wide range of people who are thought to potentially pose a security threat, in some cases merely because they are acquainted with someone else under watch. | Being flagged with such a file — the “S” stands for “la Sûreté de l’État,” or security of the state — does not mean that the person has been convicted of an offense or is even suspected of one. Instead, it is a way for French security forces to keep track of a wide range of people who are thought to potentially pose a security threat, in some cases merely because they are acquainted with someone else under watch. |
| “The S File can target individuals who aren’t very dangerous, and it is used only to watch their movements and trips around the country,” Mr. Nuñez said. “It isn’t a criterion of dangerousness.” | “The S File can target individuals who aren’t very dangerous, and it is used only to watch their movements and trips around the country,” Mr. Nuñez said. “It isn’t a criterion of dangerousness.” |
| Witnesses said the gunman used a handgun, Mr. Nuñez said, and although it could not be “ruled out” that the suspect had left France for Germany, he said that border checks were immediately strengthened. | Witnesses said the gunman used a handgun, Mr. Nuñez said, and although it could not be “ruled out” that the suspect had left France for Germany, he said that border checks were immediately strengthened. |
| Mr. Nuñez said that around 15 terrorist plots had been thwarted since the beginning of the year, including one in which a “group of individuals” wanted to strike on Nov. 17, the first day of the Yellow Vest protests, to take advantage of the fact that the police were stretched thin. | Mr. Nuñez said that around 15 terrorist plots had been thwarted since the beginning of the year, including one in which a “group of individuals” wanted to strike on Nov. 17, the first day of the Yellow Vest protests, to take advantage of the fact that the police were stretched thin. |