In Pics | France seethes, riots continue for fourth day, calls for peace go unheard

According to the officials, a shooting in central Paris left two dead and several injured, including two in critical condition. Watch this video to know more.

Paris shooting kills two, suspected gunman arrested

Three people were killed and one injured in western France on Wednesday after a man open fire during a business meeting.

The shooter -- an employee of the same firm -- was also injured, national police told CNN.

The motive seemed unclear but police suspects a professional link between the shooter and the company in Saint-Varent, France, where the incident took place. The town is about 366 kilometers (277 miles) southwest of Paris.

The man, who police say was was armed with a handgun, ultimately turned the gun on himself.

Thirty officers have been deployed to the scene of the triple homicide and an investigation is underway.

Three people were killed and one injured in western France on Wednesday after a man open fire during a business meeting. The shooter -- an employee of the same firm -- was also injured, national police told CNN.

Three people were killed and one injured in western France on Wednesday after a man open fire during a business meeting. The shooter -- an employee of the same firm -- was also injured, national police told CNN. The motive seemed unclear but police suspects a professional link between the shooter and the company in Saint-Varent, France, where the incident took place. The town is about 366 kilometers (277 miles) southwest of Paris. The man, who police say was was armed with a handgun, ultimately turned the gun on himself. Thirty officers have been deployed to the scene of the triple homicide and an investigation is underway.

Shooting at a business meeting in France kills three, injures one

A relieved Strasbourg prepared to reopen its popular Christmas market on Friday after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/strasbourg-christmas-market-attacker-killed-after-gun-battle-183878">French police shot dead the gunman </a>who killed three people there in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/france-hunts-gunman-who-cried-allahu-akbar-in-christmas-market-attack-183530">Cherif Chekatt </a>was killed late Thursday after a two-day manhunt when a police patrol spotted him on a street in the district where he was last seen after Tuesday night's attack on Christmas shoppers.

The lights on the market's towering Christmas tree were illuminated Friday for the first time since the attack ahead of the official re-opening of the market at 11:00 am (1000 GMT).

"I hope life will get back to normal but I'm not too sure," said Franck Hoffmann as opened his wooden chalet offering Christmas candles and ornaments on Friday.

"Business isn't going to be what it was," he predicted.

Questions remained over how Chekatt was able to evade the tight security perimeter set up for an event long known to be a prime target for jihadist groups.

Around 500 police, security agents and soldiers control access at checkpoints on the bridges leading to the river island, a UN World Heritage site, that houses the market.

The goal is to "create a bubble with searches at the entry points," Mayor Roland Ries said after the attack, while regional government representative Jean-Luc Marx said he had not determined "any flaws in the security measures".

Many residents, however, were not convinced after Chekatt managed to slip through the controls with a handgun and a knife. 
"It doesn't surprise me," said Emeline, 38, who works in the city centre. "You wear a heavy coat, put something in the bottom of your bag. You can bring in what you want."

'It's too painful'

France's anti-terror prosecutor Remy Heitz is to hold a press conference in Strasbourg on Friday while Interior Minister Christophe Castaner will attend the reopening of the market, which usually draws two million people every year.

France has been on high alert since the start of a wave of jihadist attacks in 2015, which prompted a threefold surge in the security budget for the market, to one million euros.

Chekatt, a 29-year-old career criminal 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.

The propaganda wing of the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for Tuesday's attack, calling Chekatt one of its "soldiers" who responded to its calls to target citizens of nations in the coalition fighting the jihadists in Iraq and Syria.

Among the 13 injured in the attack, three remain in critical condition while three others have been released from hospital, Castaner said Thursday.

Strasbourg's deputy mayor Alain Fontanel admitted that despite patrols, plainclothes police, profilers and video surveillance, "the risks can be reduced, but not eliminated".

"We can't pat down and search everyone, only carry out random checks," he said, adding that huge lines at checkpoints would only create a new potential target for terrorists.

"Someone who wants to get in an area this big with a weapon can do it," he said.

Such reasoning was little comfort to the residents and tourists who flock to the Strasbourg market.

"We thought this would happen only in Nice or at the Bataclan, but here it is at home," said Sylvain, who works at another market in the city centre.

He was referring to the truck attack which killed scores at Bastille Day festivities in Nice, southern France, in 2016, and the massacre at the capital's Bataclan concert hall in November 2015.

"I'm not going to forget this anytime soon. It's too painful. I'm not even sure I'm able to cry," he said. 
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A relieved Strasbourg prepared to reopen its popular Christmas market on Friday after French police shot dead the gunman who killed three people there in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group.

A relieved Strasbourg prepared to reopen its popular Christmas market on Friday after French police shot dead the gunman who killed three people there in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group. Cherif Chekatt was killed late Thursday after a two-day manhunt when a police patrol spotted him on a street in the district where he was last seen after Tuesday night's attack on Christmas shoppers. The lights on the market's towering Christmas tree were illuminated Friday for the first time since the attack ahead of the official re-opening of the market at 11:00 am (1000 GMT). "I hope life will get back to normal but I'm not too sure," said Franck Hoffmann as opened his wooden chalet offering Christmas candles and ornaments on Friday. "Business isn't going to be what it was," he predicted. Questions remained over how Chekatt was able to evade the tight security perimeter set up for an event long known to be a prime target for jihadist groups. Around 500 police, security agents and soldiers control access at checkpoints on the bridges leading to the river island, a UN World Heritage site, that houses the market. The goal is to "create a bubble with searches at the entry points," Mayor Roland Ries said after the attack, while regional government representative Jean-Luc Marx said he had not determined "any flaws in the security measures". Many residents, however, were not convinced after Chekatt managed to slip through the controls with a handgun and a knife. "It doesn't surprise me," said Emeline, 38, who works in the city centre. "You wear a heavy coat, put something in the bottom of your bag. You can bring in what you want." 'It's too painful' France's anti-terror prosecutor Remy Heitz is to hold a press conference in Strasbourg on Friday while Interior Minister Christophe Castaner will attend the reopening of the market, which usually draws two million people every year. France has been on high alert since the start of a wave of jihadist attacks in 2015, which prompted a threefold surge in the security budget for the market, to one million euros. Chekatt, a 29-year-old career criminal 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. The propaganda wing of the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for Tuesday's attack, calling Chekatt one of its "soldiers" who responded to its calls to target citizens of nations in the coalition fighting the jihadists in Iraq and Syria. Among the 13 injured in the attack, three remain in critical condition while three others have been released from hospital, Castaner said Thursday. Strasbourg's deputy mayor Alain Fontanel admitted that despite patrols, plainclothes police, profilers and video surveillance, "the risks can be reduced, but not eliminated". "We can't pat down and search everyone, only carry out random checks," he said, adding that huge lines at checkpoints would only create a new potential target for terrorists. "Someone who wants to get in an area this big with a weapon can do it," he said. Such reasoning was little comfort to the residents and tourists who flock to the Strasbourg market. "We thought this would happen only in Nice or at the Bataclan, but here it is at home," said Sylvain, who works at another market in the city centre. He was referring to the truck attack which killed scores at Bastille Day festivities in Nice, southern France, in 2016, and the massacre at the capital's Bataclan concert hall in November 2015. "I'm not going to forget this anytime soon. It's too painful. I'm not even sure I'm able to cry," he said.

Strasbourg reopens Christmas market after gunman killed

Armed French police launched an operation on Thursday in Strasbourg's Neudorf neighbourhood to hunt for the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/french-police-releases-photo-of-suspected-gunman-behind-strasbourg-christmas-market-attack-183576">gunman who killed three people</a> in an attack on a Christmas market.

News agency Reuters cited television reports and said that elite officers from the RAID police unit conducted search operations with their guns. Other officers extended a security perimeter in the neighbourhood.

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner told the Senate that&nbsp;police&nbsp;were acting on a lead and "eliminating any doubts". There was no immediate indication they had located the suspect shooter.

French police on Tuesday night released the&nbsp;photo of Cherif Chekatt, the&nbsp;man suspected&nbsp;to have carried out the attack at the Strasbourg Christmas market in which 3 people were killed and at least 13 injured.

Police said a Strasbourg-born native<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/gunman-kills-four-in-french-christmas-market-and-flees-183355">&nbsp;Frenchman Cherif C., 29, was on the&nbsp;</a>watchlist of intelligence services and had been sentenced 27 times in France, Germany and Switzerland for crimes including violence and robbery.

More than 700&nbsp;police&nbsp;are taking part in the manhunt.&nbsp;French&nbsp;and German&nbsp;police&nbsp;manned controls on either side of the Europe Bridge, which spans the frontier running along the Rhine river.

Asked if&nbsp;French&nbsp;police&nbsp;had been instructed to catch Chekatt dead or alive, government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux told CNews: "It doesn't matter. The best thing would be to find him as quickly as possible."

(With inputs from agencies)

Armed French police launched an operation on Thursday in Strasbourg's Neudorf neighbourhood to hunt for the gunman who killed three people in an attack on a Christmas market.

Armed French police launched an operation on Thursday in Strasbourg's Neudorf neighbourhood to hunt for the gunman who killed three people in an attack on a Christmas market. News agency Reuters cited television reports and said that elite officers from the RAID police unit conducted search operations with their guns. Other officers extended a security perimeter in the neighbourhood. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner told the Senate that police were acting on a lead and "eliminating any doubts". There was no immediate indication they had located the suspect shooter. French police on Tuesday night released the photo of Cherif Chekatt, the man suspected to have carried out the attack at the Strasbourg Christmas market in which 3 people were killed and at least 13 injured. Police said a Strasbourg-born native Frenchman Cherif C., 29, was on the watchlist of intelligence services and had been sentenced 27 times in France, Germany and Switzerland for crimes including violence and robbery. More than 700 police are taking part in the manhunt. French and German police manned controls on either side of the Europe Bridge, which spans the frontier running along the Rhine river. Asked if French police had been instructed to catch Chekatt dead or alive, government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux told CNews: "It doesn't matter. The best thing would be to find him as quickly as possible." (With inputs from agencies)

French armed police launch operation in Strasbourg district

WION Dispatch: Strasbourg attacker cried 'allahu akbar' while shooting

Two incidents of shooting were&nbsp;reported in southern France on Friday.&nbsp;

A gunman shot at one or two people&nbsp;in the first incident of hostage-taking&nbsp;at a supermarket&nbsp;in the town of Trebes. He claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group, the local prosecutor&#39;s office said, adding that they were treating the hostage-taking as a terror incident.

The man &quot;entered the Super U supermarket at around 11.15 am and shots were heard,&quot; a source told AFP.

A policeman has been hurt in the second incident of shooting in the town of Carcassonne, 15 minutes&#39; drive away by car from Trebes, the security source said.

The same car has been linked to the hostage-taking and the police shooting, a security source told AFP.

Local authorities tweeted that the area was off-limits to the public.

France is still on high alert after a wave of jihadist attacks since 2015, starting in January that year with the assault on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo that left 12 people dead.

The country also suffered major attacks in Paris in November 2015 when IS jihadists killed 130 people at bars, restaurants, the Bataclan concert venue and the national stadium.

In July 2016, in another attack claimed by IS, a man drove a truck through revellers celebrating Bastille Day, killing 84 people.&nbsp;

A state of emergency put in place just after the Paris attacks was finally lifted in October last year, but soldiers continue to patrol major tourist sites and transport hubs under an anti-terror mission.

(With inputs from AFP)

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The first incident of shooting and hostage-taking has been reported at a supermarket. A policeman has been hurt in the second incident of shooting

Two incidents of shooting were reported in southern France on Friday. A gunman shot at one or two people in the first incident of hostage-taking at a supermarket in the town of Trebes. He claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group, the local prosecutor's office said, adding that they were treating the hostage-taking as a terror incident. The man "entered the Super U supermarket at around 11.15 am and shots were heard," a source told AFP. A policeman has been hurt in the second incident of shooting in the town of Carcassonne, 15 minutes' drive away by car from Trebes, the security source said. The same car has been linked to the hostage-taking and the police shooting, a security source told AFP. Local authorities tweeted that the area was off-limits to the public. France is still on high alert after a wave of jihadist attacks since 2015, starting in January that year with the assault on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo that left 12 people dead. The country also suffered major attacks in Paris in November 2015 when IS jihadists killed 130 people at bars, restaurants, the Bataclan concert venue and the national stadium. In July 2016, in another attack claimed by IS, a man drove a truck through revellers celebrating Bastille Day, killing 84 people. A state of emergency put in place just after the Paris attacks was finally lifted in October last year, but soldiers continue to patrol major tourist sites and transport hubs under an anti-terror mission. (With inputs from AFP)

Shooting, hostage-taking at French supermarket; gunman claims allegiance to Islamic State

French police have killed a gunman who shot dead at least three people and injured two others in a hostage-taking and shooting spree in southwest France, security sources said.

A policeman involved in the freeing of all of the hostages at the Super U supermarket in the town of Trebes was injured during the operation to kill the gunman, the source added, asking not to be named.&nbsp;

French investigators suspect the gunman who took people hostage at a supermarket on Friday was a Moroccan man who had been flagged as a potential extremist, a security source said. 
 
Armed police were also responding to the earlier shooting of a policeman in the town of Carcassonne, 15 minutes drive away, which took place at around 11 am (1000 GMT).&nbsp;

The same car has been linked to the hostage-taking and the police shooting.

In Trebes, a picturesque medieval town of around 5,000 people, the man &quot;entered the Super U supermarket at around 11.15 am and shots were heard,&quot; a source told AFP on condition of anonymity.

A witness reported he shouted &quot;Allahu Akbar&quot; (God is greatest) before going into the premises, the source added.

Islamic State claims attack

The Islamic State jihadist group claimed responsibility for a shooting spree and hostage siege, its propaganda agency said.

&quot;The person who carried out the attack in Trebes in southern France is a soldier of the Islamic State and he carried out the operation in response to a call to target states&quot; of the anti-IS international coalition, the Amaq agency said in a statement on social messenging app Telegram.

Site off-limits

The gunman claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group, the local prosecutor&#39;s office said, and the incident was being treated as a terror attack.

Local authorities tweeted that the area around the supermarket was off-limits to the public, while Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said it was a &quot;serious&quot; incident.

The shootings come with France still on high alert after a string of jihadist attacks since 2015, starting in January that year with the assault on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo that left 12 people dead.

France also suffered major attacks in Paris in November 2015 when IS jihadists killed 130 people in bombings and shootings at bars, restaurants, the Bataclan concert venue and the national stadium.

In July 2016, in another attack claimed by IS, a man drove a truck through revellers celebrating Bastille Day in the Riviera resort of Nice, killing 84 people.&nbsp;

A state of emergency put in place just after the Paris attacks was finally lifted in October last year, but soldiers continue to patrol major tourist sites and transport hubs under an anti-terror mission.

If the link to Islamic State is confirmed, the hostage-taking would be the first deadly attack in France since October, when two young women were stabbed to death outside Marseille&#39;s main train station.&nbsp;

Interior Minister Gerard Collomb was heading to the scene, he wrote on Twitter.

The area of southwest France where Friday&#39;s shootings took place has been scarred by Islamic extremism before.&nbsp;

In 2012, Mohamed Merah shot dead seven people including three Jewish schoolchildren in the nearby city of Toulouse. 
 
Watch:

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There are two victims in a hostage-taking at a supermarket in Trebes in southern France, the mayor of the town said on Friday (March 23) as La Depeche du Midi newspaper reported one person was dead. (Reuters,Others)
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A gunman claiming allegiance to the Islamic State group opened fire and took hostages at a supermarket in southwest France

French police have killed a gunman who shot dead at least three people and injured two others in a hostage-taking and shooting spree in southwest France, security sources said. A policeman involved in the freeing of all of the hostages at the Super U supermarket in the town of Trebes was injured during the operation to kill the gunman, the source added, asking not to be named. French investigators suspect the gunman who took people hostage at a supermarket on Friday was a Moroccan man who had been flagged as a potential extremist, a security source said. Armed police were also responding to the earlier shooting of a policeman in the town of Carcassonne, 15 minutes drive away, which took place at around 11 am (1000 GMT). The same car has been linked to the hostage-taking and the police shooting. In Trebes, a picturesque medieval town of around 5,000 people, the man "entered the Super U supermarket at around 11.15 am and shots were heard," a source told AFP on condition of anonymity. A witness reported he shouted "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) before going into the premises, the source added. Islamic State claims attack The Islamic State jihadist group claimed responsibility for a shooting spree and hostage siege, its propaganda agency said. "The person who carried out the attack in Trebes in southern France is a soldier of the Islamic State and he carried out the operation in response to a call to target states" of the anti-IS international coalition, the Amaq agency said in a statement on social messenging app Telegram. Site off-limits The gunman claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group, the local prosecutor's office said, and the incident was being treated as a terror attack. Local authorities tweeted that the area around the supermarket was off-limits to the public, while Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said it was a "serious" incident. The shootings come with France still on high alert after a string of jihadist attacks since 2015, starting in January that year with the assault on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo that left 12 people dead. France also suffered major attacks in Paris in November 2015 when IS jihadists killed 130 people in bombings and shootings at bars, restaurants, the Bataclan concert venue and the national stadium. In July 2016, in another attack claimed by IS, a man drove a truck through revellers celebrating Bastille Day in the Riviera resort of Nice, killing 84 people. A state of emergency put in place just after the Paris attacks was finally lifted in October last year, but soldiers continue to patrol major tourist sites and transport hubs under an anti-terror mission. If the link to Islamic State is confirmed, the hostage-taking would be the first deadly attack in France since October, when two young women were stabbed to death outside Marseille's main train station. Interior Minister Gerard Collomb was heading to the scene, he wrote on Twitter. The area of southwest France where Friday's shootings took place has been scarred by Islamic extremism before. In 2012, Mohamed Merah shot dead seven people including three Jewish schoolchildren in the nearby city of Toulouse. Watch: There are two victims in a hostage-taking at a supermarket in Trebes in southern France, the mayor of the town said on Friday (March 23) as La Depeche du Midi newspaper reported one person was dead. (Reuters,Others) ×

Three dead as suspected IS gunman takes hostages in France

Eight people were injured late Sunday in a shooting outside a mosque in southern France, AFP cited the prosecutor&rsquo;s office as saying.

The incident took place in front of the Arrahma mosque in the French city of Avignon at around 10:30 pm last night.

Police said they were not treating the incident as a terrorist attack. 
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&quot;From what we know this evening, the mosque was not targeted. The fact that it happened in the street of the religious establishment was unconnected with it,&quot; AFP quoted the prosecutor as saying. 
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According to AFP, at least two men got out of a car around 10:30 last night near the mosque and opened fire.&nbsp; 
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None of the wounded had life-threatening injuries, the prosecutor&rsquo;s office said. 
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The shooting comes a few days after a man on Thursday attempted to drive his car into worshippers outside the Creteil mosque in southeast Paris.

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Eight people were wounded in a shooting in front of a mosque in the southern French city of Avignon in an incident police consider to be a settling of scores rather than a militant attack (WION)
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Police said they were not treating the incident as a terrorist attack

Eight people were injured late Sunday in a shooting outside a mosque in southern France, AFP cited the prosecutor’s office as saying. The incident took place in front of the Arrahma mosque in the French city of Avignon at around 10:30 pm last night. Police said they were not treating the incident as a terrorist attack. "From what we know this evening, the mosque was not targeted. The fact that it happened in the street of the religious establishment was unconnected with it," AFP quoted the prosecutor as saying. According to AFP, at least two men got out of a car around 10:30 last night near the mosque and opened fire. None of the wounded had life-threatening injuries, the prosecutor’s office said. The shooting comes a few days after a man on Thursday attempted to drive his car into worshippers outside the Creteil mosque in southeast Paris. Eight people were wounded in a shooting in front of a mosque in the southern French city of Avignon in an incident police consider to be a settling of scores rather than a militant attack (WION) ×

8 wounded in shooting outside French mosque

At least three people have been reported injured in a mass shooting in France&#39;s Lille, as reported by The Telegraph.

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Several injured after shooting in Lille, France.
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/845406988343259136">March 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The local paper, La Voix du Nord, has reported that the injuries are not life threatening. The shots were fired near the Porte&#39;d&#39;Arras metro station in the south of the city on Friday evening.

Local reports claim a 14-year-old boy is among the injured after being shot in the leg. Another was wounded in the neck.&nbsp;

The third was taken to Saint-Vincent-de-Paul hospital. Armed police have sealed off roads in the city centre and emergency services have been deployed in the area.

The identity of those injured or the attacker is as yet unknown.&nbsp;

Initial reports suggest that the shooting was crime-related. Further details are awaited.

(ANI)&nbsp; 
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Initial reports suggest that the shooting was crime-related

At least three people have been reported injured in a mass shooting in France's Lille, as reported by The Telegraph. Several injured after shooting in Lille, France. — ANI (@ANI_news) March 24, 2017 × The local paper, La Voix du Nord, has reported that the injuries are not life threatening. The shots were fired near the Porte'd'Arras metro station in the south of the city on Friday evening. Local reports claim a 14-year-old boy is among the injured after being shot in the leg. Another was wounded in the neck. The third was taken to Saint-Vincent-de-Paul hospital. Armed police have sealed off roads in the city centre and emergency services have been deployed in the area. The identity of those injured or the attacker is as yet unknown. Initial reports suggest that the shooting was crime-related. Further details are awaited. (ANI)

At least 3 injured as gunman opens fire near metro station in France's Lille

A disturbed teenager with guns and grenades opened fire in a school in southern France on Thursday, slightly wounding four people, officials said, rattling nerves in a country scarred by jihadist attacks.

Three pupils and the head teacher suffered minor gunshot injuries, and another six students were treated for shock or injuries sustained during a stampede, according to an updated toll.

Investigators said the boy, a student at the Alexis de Tocqueville high school in the hillside town of Grasse, was carrying a small arsenal of weapons as well as a homemade explosive device in a bag.

They said he is obsessed with guns and had relationship problems, and the incident was not apparently terror-related. The name of the suspect, a minor, has not been disclosed.

Education Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem said &quot;heroic&quot; actions by the school&#39;s head teacher appeared to have helped prevent greater bloodshed.

The head teacher rushed towards the pupil as he pulled out his guns &quot;to try to reason with him,&quot; Vallaud-Belkacem said, adding that the educator was injured in the process. &quot;We avoided the worst,&quot; she said.&nbsp;

The assailant&#39;s age was initially given by investigators as 17, but they later amended it to 16.

Local prosecutor Fabienne Atzori ruled out a terror motive and said the shooting appeared to have been motivated by the gunman&#39;s &quot;bad relationships&quot; with classmates. The teenager was described by Vallaud-Belkacem as &quot;unstable and fascinated by guns&quot; and was carrying a rifle, two handguns and grenades -- which may have been dummy devices -- when he was detained by police shortly after the lunchtime attack.

Investigators also found a homemade explosive device in his rucksack, which was made safe on the spot.

He used a pump-action firearm, but not the other weapons, and offered no resistance to his arrest, the prosecutor said.

The suspect had shared pictures and videos on social media of infamous US school shootings, including the 1999 Columbine massacre in Littleton, Colorado, in which two teens killed 13 people before committing suicide.

France is still in a state of emergency after a series of terror attacks, including the November 2015 massacre in Paris and a truck attack in Nice, just 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Grasse, in July last year.

Many feared the worst when news first filtered through of the violence, with elite police response teams immediately dispatched to the scene.

The shooting comes around 40 days ahead of the first round of France&#39;s two-stage presidential election, in which security is one of the main issues on voters&#39; minds.Witnesses described scenes of panic as pupils fled the shooting or looked for places to hide.

Fifteen-year-old Mokhtaria told AFP she was having a cigarette in the school garage when she heard shots ring out.&nbsp;

&quot;We saw people coming down shouting: &#39;There&#39;s a nutter firing at people&#39;. We ran for it,&quot; she said.

Sonia, 42, the mother of a 16-year-old girl called Ines, said she had received a text message from her daughter at 12:30 pm (1130 GMT) that said, &quot;We are going to die, someone has a gun, I love you, Mum. Goodbye!&quot;

All schools in Grasse were locked down after the shooting and police threw a cordon around the building in the town which is home to several perfume factories.

Security is at its highest level in France following the spate of jihadist attacks since January 2015 that have claimed hundreds of lives.

More than 3,000 reservists were called up to help keep watch outside the country`s 64,000 primary and secondary schools when pupils returned from their summer holidays in September.

US-style school shootings are almost unheard-of in France, a country with low levels of gun violence.

The last major attack at a school was in 2012, when an Islamic extremist from Toulouse, Mohamed Merah, shot dead three children and a teacher at a Jewish school in the city before being killed by police.

In March 1984, a 15-year-old student shot and killed a teacher in the southwestern town of Castres before turning the gun on himself.

(AFP)

Three pupils and the head teacher suffered minor gunshot injuries. Another 6 students were treated for shock or injuries during the stampede

A disturbed teenager with guns and grenades opened fire in a school in southern France on Thursday, slightly wounding four people, officials said, rattling nerves in a country scarred by jihadist attacks. Three pupils and the head teacher suffered minor gunshot injuries, and another six students were treated for shock or injuries sustained during a stampede, according to an updated toll. Investigators said the boy, a student at the Alexis de Tocqueville high school in the hillside town of Grasse, was carrying a small arsenal of weapons as well as a homemade explosive device in a bag. They said he is obsessed with guns and had relationship problems, and the incident was not apparently terror-related. The name of the suspect, a minor, has not been disclosed. Education Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem said "heroic" actions by the school's head teacher appeared to have helped prevent greater bloodshed. The head teacher rushed towards the pupil as he pulled out his guns "to try to reason with him," Vallaud-Belkacem said, adding that the educator was injured in the process. "We avoided the worst," she said. The assailant's age was initially given by investigators as 17, but they later amended it to 16. Local prosecutor Fabienne Atzori ruled out a terror motive and said the shooting appeared to have been motivated by the gunman's "bad relationships" with classmates. The teenager was described by Vallaud-Belkacem as "unstable and fascinated by guns" and was carrying a rifle, two handguns and grenades -- which may have been dummy devices -- when he was detained by police shortly after the lunchtime attack. Investigators also found a homemade explosive device in his rucksack, which was made safe on the spot. He used a pump-action firearm, but not the other weapons, and offered no resistance to his arrest, the prosecutor said. The suspect had shared pictures and videos on social media of infamous US school shootings, including the 1999 Columbine massacre in Littleton, Colorado, in which two teens killed 13 people before committing suicide. France is still in a state of emergency after a series of terror attacks, including the November 2015 massacre in Paris and a truck attack in Nice, just 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Grasse, in July last year. Many feared the worst when news first filtered through of the violence, with elite police response teams immediately dispatched to the scene. The shooting comes around 40 days ahead of the first round of France's two-stage presidential election, in which security is one of the main issues on voters' minds.Witnesses described scenes of panic as pupils fled the shooting or looked for places to hide. Fifteen-year-old Mokhtaria told AFP she was having a cigarette in the school garage when she heard shots ring out. "We saw people coming down shouting: 'There's a nutter firing at people'. We ran for it," she said. Sonia, 42, the mother of a 16-year-old girl called Ines, said she had received a text message from her daughter at 12:30 pm (1130 GMT) that said, "We are going to die, someone has a gun, I love you, Mum. Goodbye!" All schools in Grasse were locked down after the shooting and police threw a cordon around the building in the town which is home to several perfume factories. Security is at its highest level in France following the spate of jihadist attacks since January 2015 that have claimed hundreds of lives. More than 3,000 reservists were called up to help keep watch outside the country`s 64,000 primary and secondary schools when pupils returned from their summer holidays in September. US-style school shootings are almost unheard-of in France, a country with low levels of gun violence. The last major attack at a school was in 2012, when an Islamic extremist from Toulouse, Mohamed Merah, shot dead three children and a teacher at a Jewish school in the city before being killed by police. In March 1984, a 15-year-old student shot and killed a teacher in the southwestern town of Castres before turning the gun on himself. (AFP)

French teen school shooter tackled by 'hero' teacher

A shooting has taken place at a high school in the small southern French town of Grasse, injuring at least two people, a police source said.

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Several injured, one arrested, one suspect on run after France school shooting, reports AFP quoting Police.
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/842354564791599104">March 16, 2017</a></blockquote>
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A 17-year-old student&nbsp;armed with a rifle, two handguns and two grenades was arrested, a police source said.

&quot;The individual does not seem to be known by police,&quot; the source said.

A second source said it appeared that two students had opened fire on the headmaster, who had been injured, adding that the suspects did not seem to be militants.

&quot;One of the two was arrested and the second fled. There was panic and the students took refuge in the (neighbouring) supermarket,&quot; said the second source.

The source said it was too early to say whether it was a terrorist attack but that one man had been arrested and a second was possibly being sought.

Local emergency services advised residents on Twitter to stay at home. The government launched its mobile telephone application warning of a &quot;terrorist&quot; attack.

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A teenage student opened fire at a high school in south-eastern France injuring three people, including the headmaster (Reuters)
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(Reuters)

A 17-year-old student?armed with a rifle, two handguns and two grenades was arrested, a police source said

A shooting has taken place at a high school in the small southern French town of Grasse, injuring at least two people, a police source said. Several injured, one arrested, one suspect on run after France school shooting, reports AFP quoting Police. — ANI (@ANI_news) March 16, 2017 × A 17-year-old student armed with a rifle, two handguns and two grenades was arrested, a police source said. "The individual does not seem to be known by police," the source said. A second source said it appeared that two students had opened fire on the headmaster, who had been injured, adding that the suspects did not seem to be militants. "One of the two was arrested and the second fled. There was panic and the students took refuge in the (neighbouring) supermarket," said the second source. The source said it was too early to say whether it was a terrorist attack but that one man had been arrested and a second was possibly being sought. Local emergency services advised residents on Twitter to stay at home. The government launched its mobile telephone application warning of a "terrorist" attack. A teenage student opened fire at a high school in south-eastern France injuring three people, including the headmaster (Reuters) × (Reuters)

Two injured in shooting at French school, one arrested: Police

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