Deadly shooting on the Champs-Elysees in Paris
France is preparing for presidential elections. Days before the vote, Paris was once again the scene of violence, in an attack that President Francois Hollande called a "terrorist" act.
A police officer has been killed in a shooting on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. Another police officer was injured in the shooting. The attacker was also shot and killed. French President Francois Hollande has called the incident a terrorist attack.
The anti-terrorism unit of the Paris prosecutor's office has launched an investigation into the deadly shooting on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. According to French Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henri Bernadette, the attacker's car stopped near a police car, then got out and opened fire on police officers.
The attacker attempted to flee without a car after the attack, when he was shot and killed. According to the information obtained, the attacker acted alone in this attack. However, the possibility that other people collaborated with the attacker during this attack cannot be ruled out.
Francois Hollande's statement
The attacker was shot dead by police. He also shot and wounded a tourist as he fled. Paris police have urged people to avoid the Champs-Élysées. Officers have blocked off streets around the Champs-Élysées.
French President Francois Hollande tweeted his condolences to the family of the police officer killed in the attack. Following the shooting, Hollande held a meeting with the prime minister and interior minister at the Elysee Palace.
Hollande said about the attack that there was a lot of information indicating that it was a terrorist attack. Referring to the French elections on Sunday, Hollande said that the police would use all security measures to monitor the election process.
ISIS claimed responsibility.
The Amaq news agency, affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS) group, has claimed responsibility for the Champs-Elysees shooting.
A statement released by ISIS stated that the attacker was a fighter of the terrorist group known as "Abu Yusuf the Belgian."
According to a news report published by the French news agency, the attacker was known to the French police. The identity of the person has not yet been officially announced. However, according to the news agency, the attacker is a 39-year-old French citizen.
Source: DW
