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Cherif don't like it, so he rocked the Christmas Market with gunfire. 4 dead


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Strasbourg shooter escapes terror cops by hijacking taxi after gunning down dead four at Christmas market

The 29-year-old gunman - partially named by police sources as Cherif C - is still at large despite a massive police operation

A GUNMAN who opened fire at a Christmas market killing at least four and critically injuring 11 others escaped cops after hijacking a cab.

Strasbourg Mayor Roland Ries last night revealed the killer "got away in a taxi, and was still on the loose" in his city.

He said a taxi driver was hijacked before midnight, and forced to drive away at gunpoint. The driver was later found in an undisclosed part of the city unharmed. 

The mayor also revealed the gunman carried out the attack inside a "security zone" surrounding the market.

Earlier, armed police and soldiers reportedly exchanged fire with the shooter wounding him when he fled on foot after he opened fire on the streets of Strasbourg, France.

He was then reported to be holed-up in a shop before making his escape.

A tourist is among the injured after being blasted in the stomach by the shooter - who is known to police - as Christmas shoppers browsed stalls.

A terror investigation has been launched and the city is on total lockdown, with police armed with machine guns on the street and people taking cover in bars and restaurants.

Security officials have cordoned off the market area and all trams have been stopped, according to reports from the scene.

The European Parliament has also been placed on lockdown with the orders "no one goes in, no one goes out."

The incident happened close to the world-famous market which attracts two million tourists a year in bustling Place Kleber.

The suspect was described by cops as an "S File security risk" - which means  an individual considered to be a serious threat to national security.

Some 26,000 individuals suspected of posing a security risk to France are on the watch list, of whom about 10,000 are believed to have been radicalised online or abroad.

The alleged killer was later identified by the name 'Cherif C' by investigating sources.

Grenades were reportedly found at the home of the gunman after he went on the run, said an investigating source.

"The grenades were made safe and then confiscated following a search after the suspect went on the run on Tuesday morning," said the source. 

Chilling footage inside restaurant of people hiding from gunman near Strasbourg Christmas Market

"He was well known for mixing in radicalised circles in Strasbourg, as well as being involved in robberies."

"There were gun shots and people running everywhere," one local shopkeeper told BFM TV.  "It lasted about 10 minutes."

Witness Peter Fritz said he tried to help a Thai tourist lying on the ground with an apparent head wound after hearing "two distinct noises" which he initially took to be firecrackers.

He told the BBC: "We tried our best to resuscitate him, we applied CPR, we dragged him into a restaurant close by and had help with some medical people from Germany, but it took more than 45 minutes for an ambulance to appear.

 "After 45 minutes we were told over the phone by an emergency doctor that any further efforts would be futile. He's still here in this restaurant but we have abandoned all hope for him.

"His wife is also still here in a state of shock."

Mr Fritz said the man appeared to be aged in his thirties.

Doris Manou told the BBC: "Earlier on I was walking around the Christmas market in central Strasbourg and I passed Place Kleber where the shooting took place just minutes before it happened.

"Then I continued walking on Rue du Dome when I saw the army with a group of 10-12 soldiers walking towards me with their guns pointed to the street and around them everyone was running from all directions.

Strasbourg Christmas Market goers run for cover after shots fired leaving at least one dead and three injured

"The soldiers were very focused on their mission, they were running."

She said she and several others then threw themselves to the floor in a courtyard of a building thinking there could be a bomb, before some students in a nearby building offered them refuge.

She said she remains sheltered in the building having been advised it is not yet safe to leave.

Some of those on the scene reported they had seen victims lying on the street following the shooting.

A source at the prosecutor's office said the motive behind the gun attack was not immediately clear and that an investigation was under way to see if it was terror-related.

French president Emannuel Macron held an emergency security meeting with his cabinet before tweeting that the whole of France stood with the city and its victims.

Regional authorities confirmed an "ongoing incident" in the city but gave no further details.

The interior ministry described the incident as a “serious security event” and warned the public to stay indoors.

Several sites in the city centre are concerned, it added, including rue des Orfèvres, rue des Grandes-Arcades and Grand'Rue.

Local journalist Bruno Poussard wrote on Twitter that there had been a dozen shots fired on his street in the city centre.

Emmanuel Foulon, a press officer for the European Parliament, wrote that there was "panic" following the sound of gunfire and armed cops were seen running through the streets.

Strasbourg deputy mayor Alain Fontanel tweeted: "Shooting in downtown Strasbourg. Thank you all for staying home while waiting for a clarification of the situation."

Yorkshire and the Humber Labour MEP Linda McAvan tweeted: "There's a shooting incident tonight in Strasbourg centre where Xmas market takes place.

"European Parliament on lock down. I and my staff are safe in the building."

Several other MEPs tweeted to say that both they and their staffs were safe and accounted for.

The European Parliament building is around two miles from the centre of Strasbourg.

Thorbjorn Jagland, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, said on Twitter: "The police informed me tonight of a shooting in Strasbourg with possibly one victim and several wounded.

"The perpetrator is still on the run. This is a serious incident and I advise all staff and visitors to stay at home or indoors for the moment."

Strasbourg Christmas market is one of the oldest in Europe with 300 wooden chalets set up in the city's historic centre from November 23 to Christmas Eve.

 NINTCHDBPICT000455699840.jpg?w=960tp-graphic-strasbourg-attack-new.jpg?w=9

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I know a couple who were heading to Strasbourg to visit the Christmas market.  I really, really hope they're not there right now and are alright.  I think we would have heard by now if an American or two was shot there.  

I hope they find kill the shooter when they find him.  It won't be enough justice but it's really the best we can all hope for.

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