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The police secured the Champs-Élysées in Paris on Thursday after reports that one policeman was killed and another was wounded. CreditChristian Hartmann/Reuters

PARIS — A gunman jumped out of a car, killed a police officer and wounded two others on the Champs-Élysées in central Paris on Thursday night, French officials said.

The gunman was shot dead by the police as he tried to flee on foot, Pierre-Henry Brandet, a French Interior Ministry spokesman, told the BFMTV news channel.

Mr. Brandet said that shortly before 9 p.m a car pulled up to a police vehicle that was parked on the famous boulevard.

The man opened fire on the police vehicle with an automatic weapon, killing an officer. He then “tried to leave by running away while aiming at, and trying to target, other police officers,” Mr. Brandet said.

“He managed to wound two others and was shot dead by the police forces,” Mr. Brandet added. It was not immediately known if anyone else was in the attacker’s car.

Mr. Brandet said that the exact sequence of events was still unclear, as was whether the assailant had acted alone. He denied reports that a second officer had died and said that the identity of the gunman had not been clearly established.

“It is much too early to say what the motivations were but in any case police officers who were deliberately targeted this evening on the Champs-Élysées,” he added.

The Paris prosecutor’s office said on Thursday night that it had opened a terrorism investigation.

President François Hollande, addressing the nation from from the Élysée presidential palace near where the shooting occurred, said that the French authorities were “convinced” that the shooting pointed to a terrorist act.

Mr. Hollande said he would convene a national security meeting on Friday morning and that a national tribute would be paid to the slain officer.

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“We must all be aware that our security forces do work that is particularly difficult, that they are exposed, as one can see again this evening, and that they have the nation’s full support,” Mr. Hollande said.

Mr. Hollande said that a passerby had also been wounded in the shooting, but he did not specify how badly.

The presidential candidates quickly reacted to the shooting on Twitter. François Fillon, the conservative candidate for the Republican party, praised “security forces who give their life to protect ours,” while Marine Le Pen, the far-right candidate, said police officers were “once again targeted.”

The campaigns of both Mr. Fillon and Ms. Le Pen said they had cancelled all events scheduled for Friday.

The shooting occurred near the George V metro stop, not far from the Arc de Triomphe that sits at the top of the boulevard, which is lined with luxury stores and is a top tourist attraction.

Security forces quickly descended en masse on the Champs-Élysées. French television showed police officers closing off parts of the area. Nearby Métro stations were also closed.

The Paris Police Prefecture warned on its official Twitter account that a police operation was still underway in the area and advised people to stay away.

The shooting, which occurred near the presidential palace and many landmarks popular with tourists, heightened fears in a city already on edge days before the start of presidential elections. The country has been plagued not only by well-planned terrorist assaults, like the one in November 2015 that left 130 people dead in and around Paris; and the massacre at the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in January of that year, but by also small-scale attacks by lone killers.

Voters in France go to the polls on Sunday for the first round of the election. The shooting occurred even as the presidential candidates were appearing on television to make their final arguments to voters.

Two men were arrested in the southern city of Marseille this week on suspicions that they were preparing an attack to disrupt the campaign.

In his address late Thursday, Mr. Hollande vowed that the authorities would maintain an “absolute vigilance” during the elections.

Replies sorted oldest to newest

ba$eman posted:

My daughter and sister and several relatives where there a week ago!

I have said this before and I'll say it again. If any of these inbred ignorant SOBs were ever to harm my family, I'd go after them like the wrath of god. As much as the Islamophobes would like people to think, this is NOT what Islam teaches.

GTAngler
Nehru posted:

Really, that is your bloody slanted opinion. I know the Terrorists ALWAYS chant " Allah Huh Akbar " when they are carrying out their "Mission". Facts Baby Facts!!!!!!!!!

Opinion? Well since you're the educated one with the PHD, show me your facts and where in the Koran it advocated the taking of innocent lives. By the way, weren't you the JACKASS who said yesterday "Inshah Allah" the brother will get a fair sentence?

GTAngler
Last edited by GTAngler
Nehru posted:

Are you dumb, had your brain taken out last night, had too many to drink or is that your natural state???  When you can make sense come back and post!!!!!!!!

I am going to ask again:

1.  Show me your facts.

2.  Where in the Koran does it advocate the taking of innocent lives?

3.   Weren't you the JACKASS who said yesterday "Inshah Allah" the      brother will get a fair sentence?

answer the questions you ignoramus......

GTAngler

FOOL real FOOL, where did I say the Koran advocate the taking of lives

Yes BIG JACKASS I said Duwah for brother Ed.

Make sense DUMMY and then rewine and come again you brainless Mule!!1

Nehru
Nehru posted:

Really, that is your bloody slanted opinion. I know the Terrorists ALWAYS chant " Allah Huh Akbar " when they are carrying out their "Mission". Facts Baby Facts!!!!!!!!!

Some food for thought:

Khymer Rouge-Cambodian Terrorists

ANC-African Terrorists

Tupac Amaru-Peruvian Terrorists

Red Brigades-Japanese Terrorists

Aum Shinrikyo-Japanese Terrorists

Loyalist Volunteer Force-Irish Terrorists

Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path)-Peruvian Terrorists

FARC-Colombian Terrorists

Falun Gong-Japanese Terrorists

that is just a few. They all shout Allahu Akbar?

GTAngler
Nehru posted:

FOOL real FOOL, where did I say the Koran advocate the taking of lives

Yes BIG JACKASS I said Duwah for brother Ed.

Make sense DUMMY and then rewine and come again you brainless Mule!!1

You are the poster child for Dunces. You don't even understand the words you write. This is what you wrote in response to me saying Islam does NOT advocate the taking of innocent lives.

Really, that is your bloody slanted opinion. I know the Terrorists ALWAYS chant " Allah Huh Akbar " when they are carrying out their "Mission". Facts Baby Facts!!!!!!!!!

GTAngler

you ar

Nehru posted:

I really do not have more time to waste. Ask Trump to sponsor your brain replacement!!!

Isn't that an oxymoron, emphasis on MORON? A WASTE OF TIME not having time to waste. You are on a roll with all these intelligent retorts. Typical answers when you can't refute. Guh back to lil ABC.....

GTAngler
Last edited by GTAngler
Bibi Haniffa posted:

Is it coincidental that many terrorists are Muslims?

Unfortunately. They claim to be fighting in the name of Islam but as I said before that isn't what Islam preaches. Those are the misguided. I hold them in the same contempt as you Islamophobes but you can't blame an entire religion. I have never and never will support any kind of terrorism.

GTAngler
Last edited by GTAngler
GTAngler posted:
Nehru posted:

Really, that is your bloody slanted opinion. I know the Terrorists ALWAYS chant " Allah Huh Akbar " when they are carrying out their "Mission". Facts Baby Facts!!!!!!!!!

 

that is just a few. They all shout Allahu Akbar?

You will admit that those groups had specified enemies and normally targeted them. Nor have any cite a religious rationale within recent years.  No specific fight for territory or claims of a battle for civil rights. 

I also think that you are cute to call the ANC a terrorist group.  Member of the KKK are you, or a supporter of apartheid?

There are certain weaknesses in Islam which seems to allow any and every one to purport to claim to be a religious leader, to have a following, and to instigate weak minded people to commit horrific acts.  Their goals are vague and rationale absent, which makes it hard to get the logic of their behavior.

Given that Muslims are the majority of the victims of these lunatics it appears to me as if Muslims ought to be way more active than they are now in crushing these folks.

FM
Bibi Haniffa posted:

So then the good Muslims should speak out against this.  I don't see any other religion being branded as terrorist.

They do speak out.  The problem is that they also need to face the fact that it is the primitive and tribal interpretations of the Koran, practiced widely in places like Saudi and Afghanistan that provides fuel. 

Its this which allows lunatics to think that their behavior can be sanctioned.  In fact these criminals raise funding from individuals or groups who clandestinely support them for reasons best known to themselves. 

I note that in the last 50 years there has been a tribalization of Islam.  If folks want to cover themselves from head to toe that is their right, but when they do so thinking that the tribal Saudi interpretation of the Koran is better than that which obtained in places like Cairo or Baghdad 60 years ago then this is the issue.  It is but a short step from honor killings, or harassing Muslim women because they don't want to cover their hair, or they wish to show some cleavage, and these actions.

While mainstream Islam does indeed distance itself from this savagery it does need to ask itself what is there within this religion that seems to spark more extremism than what we see in other modern religions.  I can understand the need to be defensive, but I don't think that this is a good long term strategy.

FM
caribny posted:
GTAngler posted:
Nehru posted:

Really, that is your bloody slanted opinion. I know the Terrorists ALWAYS chant " Allah Huh Akbar " when they are carrying out their "Mission". Facts Baby Facts!!!!!!!!!

 

that is just a few. They all shout Allahu Akbar?

You will admit that those groups had specified enemies and normally targeted them. Nor have any cite a religious rationale within recent years.  No specific fight for territory or claims of a battle for civil rights. 

I also think that you are cute to call the ANC a terrorist group.  Member of the KKK are you, or a supporter of apartheid?

There are certain weaknesses in Islam which seems to allow any and every one to purport to claim to be a religious leader, to have a following, and to instigate weak minded people to commit horrific acts.  Their goals are vague and rationale absent, which makes it hard to get the logic of their behavior.

Given that Muslims are the majority of the victims of these lunatics it appears to me as if Muslims ought to be way more active than they are now in crushing these folks.

Picked at Random to show a cross section worldwide. A bad choice nonetheless. I was going from a list I found. Was also meant to show how people view things differently. I.E. One man's freedom fighters are another man's terrorists.

GTAngler
caribny posted:
Bibi Haniffa posted:

So then the good Muslims should speak out against this.  I don't see any other religion being branded as terrorist.

They do speak out.  The problem is that they also need to face the fact that it is the primitive and tribal interpretations of the Koran, practiced widely in places like Saudi and Afghanistan that provides fuel. 

Its this which allows lunatics to think that their behavior can be sanctioned.  In fact these criminals raise funding from individuals or groups who clandestinely support them for reasons best known to themselves. 

I note that in the last 50 years there has been a tribalization of Islam.  If folks want to cover themselves from head to toe that is their right, but when they do so thinking that the tribal Saudi interpretation of the Koran is better than that which obtained in places like Cairo or Baghdad 60 years ago then this is the issue.  It is but a short step from honor killings, or harassing Muslim women because they don't want to cover their hair, or they wish to show some cleavage, and these actions.

While mainstream Islam does indeed distance itself from this savagery it does need to ask itself what is there within this religion that seems to spark more extremism than what we see in other modern religions.  I can understand the need to be defensive, but I don't think that this is a good long term strategy.

If there was something inherent in the teachings of Islam that causes this, those drawn to that savagery would be more than the 6 to 10% of Muslims. However, I do share the concern that these people are hijacking the religion for the rest of the Muslim community. Other than the highlighted part, I agree with your statements above.

I think that most Muslims would wish that these people disappear. I know that I do.

FM

One need to ask what is the driving force that cause these people to act with such barbarism. Don't tell me Islam! For they are killing Muslims more than anyone else.

CaribJ and others , you see when communism fell , it was predicted by experts that the next war will be with Islam. 

FROM then to now,  ask yourselves how many Muslim countries  were totally destroyed by invading countrues especially our blessed America. Afghanistan gone,  Iraq gone, Syria gone, Libya gone and the list goes on. One American President touted that democracy  must exist , when the people of certain Islamic countries voted for a certain party, America said no they cannot recognize those Governments.

CaribJ the issue is bigger than " tribal interpretation of the Koran", that is just a smoke screen to blind you to the fact , as to  who are the forces that are responsible to ensure that the Muslim.world remain in chaos and disarray . 

 

 

Chief

Carib J,

I am not sure which religion you belongs to, but regardless, always remember, God is a just God.

Pope John Paul described  the invasion of Iraq by America and its allies as an "evil war" . He and others warned that this will have serious consequences , today we are seeing no end to that evil.

What you sow, so shall you reap! The evil continues!

The bottom line is always the innocents who are paying for the evil actions by their leaders.

It  pains my heart when an innocent is murdered in France, San Bernadino or in the rural areas of Afghanistan and Iraq. A life is life, regardless of race or religion.

Blaming  interpretation of the Quran for all this evil,  you are starting to sound like some of the Whites who used the bible to justify the lynching of blacks in the South during the 60's.

Chief

Nehru 

You seems to get an erection everytime an innocent person is murdered by these terrorists. You are always clapping and cheering even finding out what was shouted before these people fired their guns.

Stop your infantile behaviour !

Chief

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