Three dead and three injured in shooting at Kurdish cultural centre in Paris
A 69-year-old gunman opened fire at a Kurdish cultural centre and hairdressing salon in central Paris on Friday, killing three people and injuring three others, witnesses and prosecutors said.
The man began shooting on Friday morning in rue d'Enghien in the 10th arrondissement of the capital. He was arrested at the scene and police also secured the weapon he had used.
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Two people died at the scene while a third later succumbed to their injuries. Three others were injured, with one in a critical condition. According to Alexandra Cordebard, the mayor of the 10th arrondissement, the shooter was also injured and is in a serious condition.
Police sources say that the man, a French national, was known to police for two previous attempted murders in 2016 and 2021. French media reported that he had recently been released from prison after an attack with a sword at a migrant centre.
#Paris10 rue d'Enghien, intervention de police en cours. ➡️ Une personne interpellée
🔴 Évitez le secteur et laissez les services de secours intervenir pic.twitter.com/5C5wcKCCHk
— Préfecture de Police (@prefpolice) December 23, 2022
"The shooter has been arrested with his weapon. The danger is over," a police source told AFP. "His motives remain unknown at this stage."
His identity and his target immediately raised suspicions that the shooting could have been racially motivated.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has repeatedly warned about the danger of violent far-right groups in France.
The shots shortly before midday caused panic in the neighbourhood, a bustling area of shops, restaurants and bars.
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.
A shopkeeper in the area told AFP on condition of anonymity that she heard seven or eight shots, saying "it was total panic. We locked ourselves inside."
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The man began shooting on Friday morning in rue d'Enghien in the 10th arrondissement of the capital. He was arrested at the scene and police also secured the weapon he had used.
LATEST: Paris gunman 'clearly targeted foreigners', French minister says
Two people died at the scene while a third later succumbed to their injuries. Three others were injured, with one in a critical condition. According to Alexandra Cordebard, the mayor of the 10th arrondissement, the shooter was also injured and is in a serious condition.
Police sources say that the man, a French national, was known to police for two previous attempted murders in 2016 and 2021. French media reported that he had recently been released from prison after an attack with a sword at a migrant centre.
#Paris10 rue d'Enghien, intervention de police en cours. ➡️ Une personne interpellée
— Préfecture de Police (@prefpolice) December 23, 2022
🔴 Évitez le secteur et laissez les services de secours intervenir pic.twitter.com/5C5wcKCCHk
"The shooter has been arrested with his weapon. The danger is over," a police source told AFP. "His motives remain unknown at this stage."
His identity and his target immediately raised suspicions that the shooting could have been racially motivated.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has repeatedly warned about the danger of violent far-right groups in France.
The shots shortly before midday caused panic in the neighbourhood, a bustling area of shops, restaurants and bars.
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.
A shopkeeper in the area told AFP on condition of anonymity that she heard seven or eight shots, saying "it was total panic. We locked ourselves inside."
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