Terror at Strasbourg Christmas Market

A Christmas market in Strasbourg France was under siege after a lone gunman unleashed a vicious attack. This city is located on the border with Germany.  Multiple reports have confirmed that there are eleven people injured and four casualties. Officials are treating this as a terrorist act and are hunting down the gunman who is on the loose.

President Macron dispatched the interior minister, Christophe Castaner, who stated that the gunman was known to police and was already searching for him before the attack. The European Parliament was put on lockdown and people were told to stay indoors. There were multiple international politicians and Parliament members in the building during the shooting. A local Twitter page in Strasbourg told people to stay away from police headquarters. Marc Burleigh, an AFP Journalist based in France shared this tweet stating that the shooter is a 29-year-old who was radicalized:

#Strasbourg shooting update:
– 4 killed
– shooter believed to be a radicalised 29yo born in Strasbourg and a known threat to public security
– he escaped police raid on his home early Tuesday that reportedly uncovered grenades
– Strasbourg known for Xmas market, EU parliament

— Marc Burleigh (@marcburleigh) December 11, 2018

France took drastic precautionary measures after the attacks that occurred in 2015 and 2016, by the Islamic State, where two hundred people were killed. Those attending the Strasbourg Christmas event experienced these changes with the implementation of bag searches and the banning of vehicles near the area.

Seven out of the eleven injured are said to be in critical condition.

Before the attack, French President Macron was struggling to contain the gilets Jaunes Movement (Yellow Vests).