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LAST UPDATE | 13 Dec 2018
FRENCH POLICE SHOT and killed a suspected gunman who had been on the run since killing three people at Strasbourg’s popular Christmas market on Tuesday.
The gunman who killed three people at a Christmas market in Strasbourg was killed last night, as the Islamic State jihadist group claimed him as one of its “soldiers”.
More than 700 French security forces had been hunting for 29-year-old Cherif Chekatt since the bloodshed on Tuesday night – the latest in a string of jihadist attacks to rock France.
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said three police tried to question Chekatt after spotting him on the street in the Neudorf area of the northeastern French city where he grew up, but he opened fire.
“They immediately returned fire and neutralised the assailant,” Castaner said.
A source close to the investigation said a woman spotted a man fitting Chekatt’s description with a wounded arm on Thursday afternoon and alerted authorities, who sealed off the area and used a helicopter with thermal cameras to hunt for the suspect.
People gathered at the police cordon where Chekatt was shot and applauded, some shouting “bravo!”, a source said.
“It’s really a huge relief,” said Alain Fontanel, a local official in the mayor’s office, describing the anxiety that locals had felt since Tuesday’s attack.
“We didn’t really feel very safe,” one 18-year-old local named Arthur told AFP.
‘Great European city’
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed “the solidarity of the whole country” towards the victims as he arrived for a European summit in Brussels.
“It is not only France that has been hit … but a great European city as well,” he added, referring to the seat of the European parliament in the eastern French city that lies on the border with Germany.
Chekatt, who lived in a rundown apartment block a short drive from the city centre, was flagged by French security forces in 2015 as a possible Islamic extremist.
He was believed to have been wounded after exchanging fire with soldiers during the attack, but managed to escape and had not been seen since fleeing the scene on Tuesday.
Police in several other countries had joined the hunt for the career criminal with at least 27 convictions in four European states.
Officers who had already detained Chekatt’s parents and two brothers on Wednesday took a fifth person into custody for questioning on Thursday.
Plea to yellow vests
France has been hit by a wave of attacks from people claiming allegiance to Al Qaeda or IS since 2015, which have claimed the lives of nearly 250 people, according to an AFP toll.
It is also not the first time a Christmas market has been targeted in Europe.
In 2016, a jihadist attacked a Christmas market in Berlin and went on the run through the Netherlands and France before being shot and killed three days later in northern Italy.
Defiant local authorities insisted the Strasbourg Christmas market would reopen as usual on Friday.
As police hunted Chekatt, the French government urged “yellow vest” protesters angry over French economic reforms not to hold another round of demonstrations this weekend, given the strain on the country’s security forces.
Government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux called on the anti-government protesters to be “reasonable” after nearly four weeks of often violent demonstrations that have led the government to offer a range of financial relief to low earners.
“Our security forces have been deployed extensively these past few weeks,” Griveaux told CNews television.
“It would be better if everyone could go about their business calmly on Saturday, before the year-end celebrations with their families, instead of demonstrating and putting our security forces to work once again.”
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“Around 700 French nationals are still in Syria, France’s top prosecutor said last week.”
Hope the French are not stupid enough to allow them back into the country, or if they do, arrest them and throw away the key. Or perhaps an airstrike to take them all out might be the way to go.
That’s a nice peaceful solution Fred. Glad you haven’t got your finger on the red button. How do you propose keeping people out of their own country?
Killing French citizens without charge or trial. Grand bit of Liberté!
You think there is a peaceful solution Bridget? What age are you? Have you got school tomorrow?
why do you think they’re in Syria? for the weather?
Is the Irish government worried about our own returning jihadis?
Yeah Paddy the Jihadi. He’s a dangerous man.
Well Iran manages to keep thousands of Iranians in exile since the Islamic revolution
Perhaps the French could send a team to Iran and ask them how they manage to do it
Beats me how they manage it.
To Petr : I’ve seen first hand people being approached by “nice happy people just sick of the way things are” who sus out those that are harmless and susceptible. By no means is an easy nation to live in, and the at times callous nature of the French make being befriending and belonging somewhere a source of comfort be it at the hands of extremists. Things here need to change big time this wouldn’t worry me only for I saw it tonight and was pretty alarmed by what I saw and heard. Vulnerable people will get either walked over by the locals or recruited by the baddies when they’re down.
French citizens, but also Muslim fundamentalists. And as such, they need killing.
@briget OHanlon give them a hug and ask them nicely? Might work…
Can’t Think of One / Liam Egan
Ah yeah, just killed those who disagree with you. Where’s the harm.
What is this irrational insistence that Islam in Ireland is uniquely free of fanaticism about?
“A FORMER ISIS operative claims that there are around 40 Irish fighters with ISIS in the Middle East.”
“The Irish fighters are perfect snipers; they use them sometimes with the Chechens, in any place they need snipers, they move the Irish,” he adds.
“They are part of the Al Khalifa army (Caliphate army), and fought in Kobane.
While Abu Omer says there are around 40 Irish fighters in Deir ez Zor, the Department of Justice’s official figure is that 30 Irish fighters have left here to fight in Syria and Iraq. Sources in the US State Department, however, say this number is closer to 70 in total.
Of the Irish, Abu Omer came across, one was known as ‘Abu Omer al-Irlandi’, another, ‘Abu Yazid al-Irlandi’. They work alongside British jihadists, “you see them together” says Omer.
http://www.thejournal.ie/interview-isis-fighter-ireland-1930654-Feb2015/
We have the exact same problems as the rest of western Europe. We’re just about 20 years behind them in terms of being willing to talk about it because we’re so determined to prove how modern and progressive and tolerant we are these days compared to our backward, xenophobic past:
“A PROMINIENT IRISH Muslim cleric has claimed that Muslim children are being taught “hatred of other communities” at unregulated weekend classes in Ireland…
…Shaykh Umar earlier told Keelin Shanley on RTE’s Today with Seán O’Rourke that a member of his council was physically assaulted when trying to post anti-extremist flyers at a Dublin mosque.
He claimed that up to 100 of the 50,000 Muslims in Ireland are silent supporters of Islamic State with radical ideologies.
“These people have not been challenged or isolated. This does not mean they are violent extremists, but they are extremist in their ideology and thinking. We must stand against them,” he said.”
“http://www.thejournal.ie/umar-al-qadri-teaching-2430709-Nov2015/
http://www.thejournal.ie/mosque-assault-2241857-Jul2015/
http://www.independent.ie/world-news/middle-east/the-irish-are-the-perfect-snipers-says-isis-escapee-30993107.html
Disagree, lol, a good terrorist is a dead one.
I’m sick of this bullshit.
Are you really? What are you gonna do about it big man?
Hug a Muslim.
Get Petr some ice for that burn!
Brilliant Luke.
Hug a nun, priest.
Lol
I honestly feel sorry for anyone that could possibly defend these Islamist lunatics. How misguided you must be if you are a European woman in western society and support this primitive ideology that goes to extremes to suppress us. They couldn’t be more perversely counterintuitive.
Thats left leaning liberals for you.
Well the left has sold us all out for total appeasement so its time for people of all political persuasions to call that out.
The tide is starting to turn though. More and more people are starting to speak up about the Emperor’s lack of attire, in regards to the multicultural project.
“Left leaning liberals” don’t defend Islam as a doctrine, nor the fundamentalists that carry out these heinous attacks. “Left leaning liberals” defend the right of the man or woman sitting beside you, that happens to be Muslim, not to be labelled as a murderer.
Deirdre. I will never defend Islamic fundamentals,but I try be a voice for my few Muslim friends,they describe these attacks as barbaric,but I find some of the comments on here just totally painting all Muslims with the one brush. I wonder how many of them will be hoping Pogba has a great game on Saturday.
Threads about anything relating to Muslims tends to be where logic goes to die. I live beside the Mosque in Clonskeagh and there are so many lovely people around here. It ridiculous how simplified and generalised people’s opinions of Islam have become. A “death doctrine” you see it called.
Of course the Muslim’s you’ve met are nice Stephen. all the Muslims that I’ve met are nice too. However, from looking at historical precedent, that will gradually change as the population rises above 2%
http://i.imgur.com/L6lce69.jpg
According to the 2011 census, the Muslim population in Ireland at the time was 1.07%
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Ireland
We’ll see if they’re still nice in a few years time. Who knows, maybe Ireland will break the pattern.
The more red thumbs I get the more I find glee in knowing that I fall on the right side of the argument. There’s a certain irony in people here giving out about fundamentalism yet a fervent hatred of people they’ve never met. Sound bites don’t drown out the stench of xenophobia, nor the bigotry. Hypocritical bunch we are
@ Stephen Todd, Wait until that Muslim Barracks has a majority in the surrounding areas,Supposed to be Europes largest Mosque when finished. Once Clonkskeagh has the numbers around it, it will be taken over, and Your Muslim friends will be so appalled by it and the radicalisation of their religion where they now live.
They will try and put distance between it and themselves but by then it will be too late, It is a waiting games, and all they need is numbers, and the Numbers are coming in generations.
It`s only all a matter of time before we hear louder cries for Sharia law throughout European cities and towns,and if one country gets it,The cries will grow louder.
It will be like a Dominoe effect
Historical precedent..lol..just look up the Catholic Church on that one..shhhure their a great crowd.
The rising population will not statistically lead to more attacks as we don’t have vested interest in the Middle East and haven’t gone and created an environment that makes ISIS a palatable alternative for people from the region. If that problem darkens our door, it’ll be down to a crazed individual more so than a person following their own interpretation of the word of their God
Also @ Stephen, on your bio you call yourself a Republican??? – You don`t know the meaning of the word lad.
Part time poet i can believe…..
@Mother wait until we’ve maligned a population within our country and alienated those yet to arrive to a point that they are perceived terrorists whether or not they’ve been here for generations. Martin Luther King once said “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” We’re hating those we’ve yet to meet. At what point does it end?
I would never want to damn someone because of their religion. But when I see a woman walking about in a burka in Ireland I don’t see a woman just practicing her own beliefs. I see a brain washed woman that has little respect in spite of a naive western society that gave her shelter.
When I was in Saudi Arabia I didn’t get 2 feet out the door of the airport before two women gave out to me something fierce for not at least covering my hair. Rightfully so. When in Rome…. I assure you I sorted myself with a scarf/hijab whilst I was there.
@mother. Yes, republican, not nationalist. Two very different things, so it appears you’re the one who is confused
@Deirdre it’s fortunate so that we live in a country where we have the right to a freedom of expression isn’t it? Would you say the same about a person wearing a cross? Some choose to wear a headscarf, some don’t, but who are you to say who should or shouldn’t, coming from a value base that prioritises freedom of choice?
Did you ever ask yourself why so many women wore scarfs in Ireland not so long ago..think about that for a minute.
Was in a petrol station in clonskeagh a while back, lady in a hijab dropped some money.Ipicked it up tried to hand it back to her, her male friend grabbed it off me and starred like I had just finger banged his ma.
Nice try trying to divert the point Spanky, but we’re not talking about the Catholic Church, we’re talking about Islam right now. I don’t see very many radical Catholics these days, and those that do exist just tend to whine about stuff they’re opposed to, rather than actually murdering people for it.
Stephen, what exactly do you base that assumption on? For the entire 1400 years of Islam’s existence, its proponents have advocated conquest and the implementation of their law on their newly conquered territories. Are you saying that they’re suddenly going to stop doing this, just because you say so? So just because Ireland isn’t involved in the situation in Middle East, they won’t feel the need to inflict their will upon us? Then can I ask, how do you explain what’s happening in the Nordic countries, most notably Sweden? I don’t recall hearing much about the Nordic countries causing problems in the Middle East, and they have actually been very generous in terms of their immigration policies, yet they’ve had huge problems with Muslim violence as their population has increased.
I think you should watch this video. It might offer some interesting insights.
I think I’ll pass on your link but with respect you are speaking in the hypothetical just as much as I am. We live in a catholic country, a Christian country. The KKK are Christian fundamentalists. Would it then be fair to say that every follower of Christianity is then by default a supporter of the KKK? No because that a ludicrous suggestion to make, yet the same logic is applied to ISIS and followers of Islam.
Methodical insanity. .we are talking about religion..did the Catholic Church not cover up the murder of babies born out of wedlock..
Stephen, Are you saying that only ISIS members and fanatics, and no other Muslims went to the Nordic Countries and kicked this all off?
I’m not speaking about the Nordic countries I’m speaking about Islam and this countries apparent disdain towards it. We can all pick examples that suit our narrative, where or how do you suggest this ends?
I am speaking in the hypothetical, yes that’s true. But it’s a hypothetical situation that is informed from looking at evidence that already exists. Historical precedent of what life is like in most Muslim majority countries, the increasing number of extremist attacks in the West as the Muslim population rises, and numerous surveys which have been conducted on Muslims which suggest that it isn’t just a small minority of them who hold extremist views, rather than assumptions, based on my own feelings, or how I hope everything turns out. I don’t want to be right about my predictions, and I really hope I am wrong, but based on what happens in every single existing Muslim country, and the increasing problems that are happening in Western countries which have a larger Muslim population than we do, I cannot help but worry about the future.
And yes, your comparison to the KKK is invalid, because as I already pointed out, we actually have full on Muslim Majority countries, which share many beliefs that are similar to that of ISIS, such as executing gays, persecuting non-Muslims, treating women as second class citizens, etc. Can you name any Christian majority country which follows KKK ideology?
And yes Sparky, it did. What’s your point though? I’m not a Catholic, or here to defend the Catholic church, so trying to start an argument with me over something I’m not even trying to defend is just a strawman. The Catholic Church is toothless now and dying off in the West anyway as more and more young people turn away from it. Islam isn’t, and is actually a relevant problem today and in the future.
Methodical insanity. My point is that the atrocities carried out all those years ago were acceptable in that era,for us to judge the ordinary Muslim and tar them all with the same brush is not a strawman debate..the history of the Catholic Church has a lot of blood on its hands.
There’s no doubting Muslim majority countries have many flaws with their treatment of gays, women etc…as do many Christian majority countries, so to put that down to religion alone is incorrect.
With regards to Muslims in Europe, and these fanatical attacks, they are driven by an ideology, one than is not held by the highest of majorities of followers of Islam, due to the carpet bombing of their people in their own countries. I don’t think it irrational to fathom a man who takes up a war against the west when the west may have blown the rest of his family out of their home. He is radicalised by western policy, and ISIS have fed directly into this narrative.
What would you suggest we do to tackle this crisis?
@Stephen
You need to read my comment again. I wasn’t disputing the hijab but I am certainly disputing the burka. That symbol of oppression has no place in western society, full stop. The burka is only a Saudi custom. Too much preference has been given to such a small minority here in Ireland.
Continental Europe is in a constant state of fear. France is nearly a police state and there is one common denominator that you can not deny. Islamist extremism.
So you feel you have the right to tell women who live in Ireland and practice Islam what they can wear? And that’s not oppressive but the other is?
@Stephen
Again Stephen when in Rome… They being able the immigrate here was a privilege not a right. Wearing a burka is by no means assimilating.
You think I would get away with the opposite in their country?? I have to admire them. They don’t worry of whom they may offend.
How about you go about the shops and bank with a balaclava on just say it’s part of your religion. See how that works out for you.
Stephen and Sparky, I actually had a very long response written out to both of you, but for some reason, it didn’t post. I then tried making a second shorter post, and the same thing happened. I’m guessing I might have used some kind of keyword or words that the comments system flags for moderation. I had included a few links in it to back up the points I was making, so I’m guessing one of those was the problem. I don’t feel like writing it all out again now, so I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree. We’ve all made our points and I think neither side is going to budge anyway.
But why does what they wear determine how they assimilate? It’s superficial. So if Rome is a country that espouses the right to civil liberties and freedom of choice, we still tell others what they can and can’t wear? I think you’re either choosing or failing to see the hypocrisy of it all. The reality is you don’t live in a country that determines what you wear, and neither does a woman who lives here but chooses to wear the burka. What you’re saying is absolute double speak. It’s coming from a place of prejudice, not a social justice perspective
@Deirdre your last comment about a balaclava is laughable, and an unsophisticated way of attempting to make a point.
Her last comment is perfectly valid Stephen,You have to take your motorcycle helmet off going into a bank,But according to you it is ok for others to walk in with their faces covered? Also, I have watched your replies and i noticed that when you BS was challenged, you dodged the question, even to the point of a long winded excuse about not being able to answer.
Newsflash Buddy!! If you had time to write that,and answer to Deirdre, you had time to answer the question.
You answered none of mine so I’m only holding you to your own standard. A motorcycle helmet is used regularly to conceal a face of a burglar, as is a balaclava. I’ve never once seen a headline “burka wearing bandit armed raid on post office”. And by the way, are you highly suspicious of all motorcyclists?
Burqa bandit in armed cash grab
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/burqa-bandit-in-armed-cash-grab-20100505-ub1r.html
Hunt for the ‘Burka Bandit’: Man armed with knife and umbrella dressed as Muslim woman to rob travel agents
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2008641/Hunt-burka-raider-Man-dressed-Muslim-woman-caught-CCTV-robbing-travel-agencies.html
Hows them Apples Stephen?
@sparky i think youre confusing peoples criticism of islamic ideology with muslim people. You need to look a but deeper instead of getting deeply offended on behalf of others. Bloody Snowflake generation. Besides why cant people criticise islam? Can we criticise the catholic church? Islam is another idea its not beyond criticism
Small willy syndrome, John. Insecurity. Seems to be a thing with men from certain parts of the world. Is that a racist rematk? No, just an observation.
Wearing a cross is part of indigenous culture here; wearing a burka is not. Hijab is acceptable. Simple. Only people hiding faces in masks are terrorists.
@Insanity
If you try and include more than two links in a single post it’ll be rejected by the Journal system – to cut down on spam I suppose but it’s annoying when you have a bona fide reason to post multiple links.
@Stephen Todd: Christian country my arse!
The Cloinskeagh Mosque that has links to the Muslim Brotherhood…that one??
Avina thanks, I never knew that. I actually had three links in the two posts that got rejected, so that would explain that. Really annoying after all the time I had put into typing out my response though. May as well post two of the links then, if that’s allowed.
https://civilusdefendus.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/liberty-vs-sharia-july-2010-ltr.pdf
http://thosewhocansee.blogspot.ie/2015/12/why-we-culturally-profile.html
And as for the third, I’d suggest googling “muslim statistics wordpress” and checking out what should be the first site to come up. It might explain in more detail that it isn’t just a “tiny minority” who are a problem.
@ Motherofdivinejebus
Thanks a million for the support but I do think Stephen Todd is a lost cause. The Cloinskeagh Mosque are a great bunch of lads. Nevermind their links with the muslim brotherhood. Stephen wrote that Muslim countries are “flawed” just as western countries are. Of course we don’t put women in a whole and stone them to death for adultery or refusing to marry. Or hang someone just because they’re gay, marry a young child to a adult man, and men to have multiple wives to name a few.
For Steven a person that so passionately defends an ideology thats very doctrine screams oppression and dominance seems incredibly self destructive. Unfortunately he doesn’t have enough life experience or plain common sense to know any better.
There is far too much naivety in Ireland because the Irish are so new to immigration.
I’m glad our multiculturalism is not turning to shire like France’s is….. Yet!
I don’t think Shire was multicultural. Hobbits were quite xenophobic I read…
I Kent shite !
Ment’
I could point it out but i won`t……..AhhhPhuket, I will………*Meant* is the word you are looking for Jamie
Now women getting involved? When’s all this going to end.?
When they destoy everyone who doesn’t pray to Mohammad..
Dmurph They target Muslims too. ..
Actually it’s mostly Muslims they kill
The fact that they target Muslims in no way disproves that they are Islamic.
Their understanding of sharia requires them to execute muslims who are ‘hypocrites’ – bad muslims – or apostates or who ‘spread mischief in the land’ or who are defined as unavoidable collateral damage in a legitimate jihad or who are killed in valid retaliation. Same reason why Saudi and Iran execute the same categories of people. Killing other muslims is perfectly permissible and sometimes required under Islamic law under defined circumstances.
“Killing other muslims is perfectly permissible and sometimes required under Islamic law under defined circumstances.”
Really?
I was there right next to where it happened sitting obliviously having breakfast iyhe my friends watching this abandoned car be torn apart by the French police being none the wiser. People asked me if I was mad traveling to Paris and Brussels (where I was days before) but I never felt more safe. The army and police presence was brilliant in both cities but also a sad reminder of what our world had come to.
The cops have to be lucky every time, the terrorists just once.
Islam is a cult illness and barbaric.
Just as barbaric as your claim to republicanism
Do explain exactly how that statement is incompatible with republicanism Stephen…
i could do with a few ‘radical ladies’ intent on ‘imminent action’ with me
But…might be the last action you ever see and cost you a few bits and bobs.
If Islam didn’t seem to take priority over any would be western leanings we might not be in this mess, petr, etc
Do you speak English?
The newly diagnosed ‘Mental illness’ that is Islamic terror,strikes again.
have your say