One Police Officer Killed in Paris Shooting; Champs-Elysées Closed (UPDATED)
MORE: At least two involved in shooting incident in Paris, @FRANCE24 reports; shooting shuts down Champs-Elysees https://t.co/Okz2bwUl4f pic.twitter.com/JhKjFoIom6
— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 20, 2017
It is being reported that the Champs-Elysées was closed following a shooting in Paris that took the life of one police officer.
French police tweeted out that that a “police intervention” was occurring in the area and that the Champs-Elysées should be avoided:
Intervention de police en cours sur le secteur des #ChampsElysees Evitez le secteur et respectez les consignes des forces de police
— Préfecture de police (@prefpolice) April 20, 2017
The Associated Press reports that the attacker was also killed:
BREAKING: Paris police: 1 police officer killed along with attacker in shooting on Champs-Elysees.
— The Associated Press (@AP) April 20, 2017
The shooting occurs three days before the start of France’s general election and the area was already on high alert.
During his joint news conference with the Italian prime minister, President Donald Trump said that “it looks like another terrorist attack. He added, “What can you say — it never ends. We have to be strong and vigilant.”
CNN obtained video from a balcony near the shooting:
This video was taken from a balcony near the area where the Paris incident unfolded https://t.co/eBwJ6D1D8j pic.twitter.com/9t7Alb0xaj
— CNN (@CNN) April 20, 2017
And Sky News’ Jon Haworth reported that the attacker that was killed in the shooting was known to French authorities:
#BREAKING: #BREAKING: The gunman killed in the #Paris shooting was known to #France security services. No word yet on his identity.
— Jon Haworth (@JonHaworthSky) April 20, 2017
According to ABC News, terror investigators are looking at this as a possible terrorism case.
UPDATE –– 4:58 pm ET: The French Interior Ministry is now disputing reports that a second officer was killed:
MORE: French Interior Ministry says second police officer is not dead despite prior reports, two police officers are seriously wounded pic.twitter.com/CSlMGHJIil
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) April 20, 2017
UPDATE –– 5:32 pm ET: French President Francois Hollande has spoken on the shooting and has said it appears to be terror-related.
UPDATE –– 7:47 pm ET: Per multiple reports, ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack.
[image via screengrab]
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