Two people have been killed and several severely injured after an elderly gunman opened fire in Paris, sparking ‘total panic’ as bloodshed returned to the streets of the French capital.
The shooter, believed to be a 69-year-old retired train driver from France who attacked a migrant camp a year ago, ‘shot blindly’ near the Ahmet-Kaya Kurdish Cultural Centre in a bustling part of the city near the Gare du Nord at around noon.
A hero officer managed to wrench the gun from the killer to stop the horror rampage after bullets rang out near the Eurostar station, striking victims in a nearby hair salon.
Local news outlets claim two people have been confirmed dead so far and four were injured, with two in a critical condition, but police have not yet confirmed the casualties.
A gunman has shot multiple people in Paris as police warned people to stay away from the area
Paris police said they were dealing with an incident on the Rue d’Enghien and urged the public to stay away from the area, but have now confirmed the incident is over.
‘The shooter has been arrested with his weapon. The danger is over,’ a police source told AFP. ‘His motives remain unknown at this stage.’
Anti-terrorism prosecutors are investigating the shooting, but haven’t indicated any sign of a terrorist motive.
Resident Emmanuel Boujenan told AFP that the man had been arrested in a hair salon.
‘There were people panicking, shouting to the police and pointing to the salon ‘he’s in there, he’s in there, go in’,’ he explained.
He said he saw two people on the floor of the salon with leg wounds.
The shooter opened fire at the Kurdish Cultural Centre in the 10th arrondissement near the Gare du Nord
One witness told French news agency AFP that seven or eight shots had been fired, sewing mayhem in the street
Police managed to wrench the gun from him and arrest him to stop the horror rampage after bullets rang out in the city centre near the Eurostar station
The attack occurred at the Ahmet-Kaya Kurdish Cultural Centre (pictured) in a bustling part of the 10th arrondissement near the Gare du Nord at around noon
The socialist mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, said a psychological unit will be set up in the town hall
A source said: ‘Police were called and arrested him, while also confiscating his weapon. The authorities are now advising people to avoid the area.’
The shooting happened as Paris bustles with activity before the Christmas weekend.
One witness told French news agency AFP that seven or eight shots had been fired, as mayhem broke out on the surrounding streets.
A shopkeeper in the area said: ‘It was total panic. We locked ourselves inside.’
Stretchers were brought to the scene of the shooting and a security perimeter was set up by police.
The motives of the gunman remain unclear.
Prosecutors have opened an investigation into murder, intentional homicide and aggravated violence.
Paris has been the target of a series of deadly gun and knife attacks in recent years.
The deadliest single terrorist attack ever in the country came in November 2015 when 130 people were killed at a number of venues.
Suicide bombers pledging allegiance to ISIS targeted the Stade de France, cafes, restaurants and the Bataclan music venue, where 90 died.
Stretchers were brought to the scene of the shooting and a security perimeter was set up by police
Paris police said they were dealing with an incident on the Rue d’Enghien and urged the public to stay away from the area
Local news outlets claim two people have been confirmed dead so far and four were injured
Two people have been killed and several severely injured after an elderly gunman opened fire in Paris
Prosecutors have opened an investigation into murder, intentional homicide and aggravated violence
Earlier in the year, two Paris-born gunmen linked to Al-Qaeda broke into the offices of the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine, leaving 17 people dead inside and three outside.
In July 2016, 86 people were called and more than 400 injured when a 19 tonne truck was deliberately driven into crowds on the seafront promenade at Nice, which is just 20 miles from Cannes.
The terrorist turned out to be a Tunisian immigrant who was shot dead by police.
During the same month, two Isis terrorists murdered an 86-year-old Catholic priest during a church service in Normandy.
And in October 2020, three people were stabbed to death by a Tunisian immigrant in the Notre Dame basilica in Nice.
There have also been frequent knife attacks on the forces of law and order, leading to the deaths of serving police.
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