Strasbourg Shooting: Gov't say attack which left four dead 'terror-related'

World
Europe

02:21

To France, where authorities in the city of Strasbourg are continuing their investigation into a Christmas market attack that left four people dead. Several others were injured in what the government believes was a terror-related assault. CGTN's Guy Henderson has the latest.

Killed by return fire on the streets of Strasbourg, Christmas market attack suspect Cherif Chekatt was still holed up in the very neighbourhood where he was last seen on the night.

CHRISTOPHE CASTANER FRENCH INTERIOR MINISTER "There are no indications, as of now, that there were accomplices, but the investigation continues. It will continue until the end so that the entire truth comes out and so that every bit of security is guaranteed to the French people."

How did he get a gun? Why were grenades found at his home in the suburbs? Shortly before Chekatt was killed, Veteran Strasbourg reporter Philippe Dossman went to his neighborhood to try and find answers.

Dossman's well-connected here, but residents were also open. This man said he saw Chekatt a few days before. "People say he was a burglar, not an Islamist", he told Dossman.

Before another man came over and said: "He went to our mosque."

The president of the nearby community center denied anyone here would harbor extremists.

JACQUES SCHUMPP PRESIDENT, KOENIGSHOFFEN COMMUNITY CENTER "When I hear our district being described as the home of Salafists, I would say this is totally wrong. There are some people with difficulties for sure, this is one thing. But characterising the district, there aren't any more Salafists here than in the city centre."

GUY HENDERSON STRASBOURG "Municipal authorities have reacted furiously to an expert claim that of the more than 20,000 people on a French terror watch list, about 2,000 of them, 10%, are from the Strasbourg area. But when you speak to Chekatt's neighbours and people who knew him, they say there was little to no evidence he was connected to any hardened local radicalised scene."

Checkatt was one of the 20 thousand, radicalized its thought in prison. Still, there's confusion here, where were his helpers? or any sign of a network? GH, CGTN, Strasbourg.