PARIS, Dec 24 (NNN-XINHUA) – The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed that, three people, including a woman and two men, were killed yesterday morning, in shooting, in central Paris.
French Interior minister, Gerard Darmanin, said, the “exact motives of the killer” were yet unknown, but the suspect “obviously acted alone.”
Darmanin, who arrived at the scene yesterday afternoon, said, while the gunman “was clearly targeting foreigners,” it was “not certain” that the man was aiming to kill “Kurds in particular.”
The suspect, of French nationality, was not on any radicalism watch lists, nor was he known for involvement in any of the recently dissolved extreme-right groups, or other political movements, the minister said.
However, clashes broke out near the shooting scene yesterday afternoon, between members of the Kurdish community and the police, with the latter launching tear gas.
Speaking to reporters at the shooting scene, Paris prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, confirmed that the suspect had two earlier criminal records.
The 69-year-old retired train driver was indicted for violence of racist nature with a weapon, and premeditation for injuring two with a knife in a migrant camp in east Paris, last year.
French President, Emmanuel Macron described the shooting as a “heinous attack” in the heart of Paris.
The suspect opened fire, yesterday morning, in three places, on a street of the 10th arrondissement: a Kurdish community centre, a restaurant and a hair salon.
Apart from the three killed, three others were injured, one of whom is in critical condition. An investigation was launched immediately, after police arrested the suspect at the scene.– NNN-XINHUA
