Skip to main content

Photo
 
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.

Breaking News Alerts

Sign up to receive an email from The New York Times as soon as important news breaks around the world.

“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

Add Reply

×
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×