Staying in Europe, The French government is calling Tuesday's shootings at a Christmas market in Strasbourg a terrorist attack. Investigators have revealed their prime suspect. At least two people were killed and 13 injured. CGTN's Guy Henderson reports.

This is France's most-wanted man: 29-year-old French citizen Cherif Chekatt. Another common criminal turned alleged terrorist.

REMY HEITZ PARIS PROSECUTOR "He's well known by police and justice services for common law crimes, mainly for robbery and violence. His police record shows 27 convictions for common law crimes committed for the near totality in France but also in Germany and Switzerland. He has been jailed on several occasions and was known by the penitential services for his radicalization."

French police raided Chekatt's home on Tuesday morning in connection with a robbery. They found grenades but not the man they sought. Hours later, came an armed rampage at a Christmas market in central Strasbourg. Only after did authorities realize how close they may have come to preventing it. Eyewitnesses described an attacker yelling "God is great" as he opened fire -- and also used a knife to stab his victims.

EYEWITNESS "We heard shots being fired and we called the emergency services -- thinking there had been an attack or something. We went to find a safe place to stay and when we came back out, there were indeed wounded people.

The suspect seemed cornered by French soldiers shortly after. Somehow he got away after this exchange - though authorities believe he was injured. As the shots rang out, residents stayed indoors but wouldn't be silenced. In this nearby sportshall, crowds sang the French national anthem.

The last known sighting was here - Neudorf - in the suburbs. Where Chekatt is alleged to have been dropped off in a hijacked taxi leaving the driver unharmed. But through the following day and into night: there was still no sign of him.

GUY HENDERSON STRASBOURG "Authorities have widened their search now. This is the other side of the French border - where armed German police are now stopping every single car leaving the Strasbourg area to carry out a thorough search."

The French government is now officially calling this a terror attack.

EDOUARD PHILIPPE FRENCH PRIME MINISTER "Again, during a celebration we love, regardless if one is a believer or not, because Christmas is a family and brotherly celebration that speaks a lot about hope and what unites us. It's this celebration that was hit yesterday by a terrorist act."

Across the country, other Christmas markets remain open. But France is on high alert: with very real fears a desperate man may lash out again. GUY HENDERSON, CGTN, Strasbourg.