Strasbourg gunman Cherif Chekatt shot dead by police
Chekatt killed after he opened fire on officers in suburban street
The man who attacked a Christmas market in Strasbourg, killing three people and injuring dozens more, has been shot dead by French police.
The man has been identified as 29-year-old Cherif Chekatt, who the BBC says “had a string of criminal convictions in France and Germany and had become a radical Islamist in jail”.
Chekatt was found by police on Rue du Lazaret, in the Neudorf area of Strasbourg around 9pm local time, where he opened fire on the officers attempting to stop him.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“When the individual turned and shot at the police, they immediately returned fire and neutralised the assailant,” French interior minister, Christophe Castaner said.
Chekatt’s death brings to an end a massive manhunt involving hundreds of police officers, following the deadly shooting.
Strasbourg’s mayor, Roland Ries, told reporters: “I think it will help to get back to a life that I would describe as normal. With the death of this terrorist... citizens, like me, are relieved.”
The Guardian reports that police went to Chekatt’s residence to “arrest him in connection with an armed robbery and attempted murder”, just hours before he attacked the Christmas market with a gun and a knife.
Police reportedly found a stun grenade, a rifle and several hunting knives inside the attacker’s home, prior to the attack that has left three people fighting for their lives in hospital.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Kimberly Guilfoyle at the Republican National Convention in 2024
Under the Radar Trump supporters driven by 'desire to please the President-elect' but phenomenon now 'crossing party line'
By The Week UK Published
-
What does Trump's Treasury secretary pick mean for the economy?
In the Spotlight Scott Bessent was once a Democratic donor. Now he'll serve Trump.
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Magazine solutions - December 6, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - December 6, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Cutting cables: the war being waged under the sea
In the Spotlight Two undersea cables were cut in the Baltic sea, sparking concern for the global network
By The Week UK Published
-
The nuclear threat: is Vladimir Putin bluffing?
Talking Point Kremlin's newest ballistic missile has some worried for Nato nations
By The Week UK Published
-
Russia vows retaliation for Ukrainian missile strikes
Speed Read Ukraine's forces have been using U.S.-supplied, long-range ATCMS missiles to hit Russia
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Israel's suspected mobile device offensive pushes region closer to chaos
In the Spotlight After the mass explosion of pagers and walkie-talkies assigned to Hezbollah operatives across Lebanon, is all-out regional war next, or will Israel and its neighbors step back from the brink?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published