Strasbourg Christmas market shooting suspect Chérif Chekatt 'shot dead', say police

The suspected extremist gunman who killed three near the city’s iconic Christmas market has been shot dead, according to reports.

Police sources said Chérif Chekatt was killed after a police operation in Strasbourg was launched at about 9pm local time.

A Reuters journalist said at least three gunshots were fired in the La Meinau district of the French city.

A top French official said a suspect has been killed but did not confirm it was the alleged gunman.

The official said the suspect opened fire on police Thursday night, and police responded, killing him.

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A top French official says a suspect has been killed in a shootout with police in Strasbourg, but hasn't been confirmed as the alleged gunman who killed three people near a Christmas market on Tuesday.

A local police official said the man who opened fire was armed with a gun and a knife.

The shooting occurred in the Neudorf neighborhood, where police conducted a search earlier on Thursday for Chekatt, a 29-year-old born in Strasbourg who police named as the suspected Christmas market gunman.

Via Evening Standard

My view: Such a despicable human being.