Two French police union officials say four people have died after a gunman started shooting near Strasbourg's Christmas market and the suspect was wounded, but is still at large.

One of the officials, Stephane Morisse from the FGP Police union, told AP authorities went to the alleged assailant's residence earlier today to arrest him but the 29-year-old suspected of ties to radicalism wasn't there.

Morisse says police found explosive materials at the home.

Morisse said that after the shooting, soldiers guarding the Christmas market shot and wounded the suspect before he escaped.
A terror investigation has been opened. At least eight people were wounded.

French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said earlier that the suspect has been identified and has a criminal record.

The city centre was locked down as authorities tried to locate the assailant, whose hail of gunfire produced panic in the eastern French city that hosts France's largest Christmas market. Local police said that residents should avoid the area near their headquarters.

"Our security and rescue services are mobilised," Castaner said on Twitter. He was on his way to Strasbourg to monitor the situation in person.

Source: NZ Herald

BDST: 1039 HRS, DEC 12, 2018
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