Four family members of the gunman who went on a deadly shooting spree at a popular Christmas market in the French city of Strasbourg were released from custody on Saturday, the Paris prosecutor's office said.

Three more people close to the attacker Cherif Chekatt, who was shot dead by police on Thursday, were still being held, it said.

But his parents and two of his brothers were freed "due to the lack of incriminating evidence at this stage", the prosecutor's office added.

More than 700 French security forces had been hunting for 29-year-old Chekatt since Tuesday night's bloodshed, in which four people died -- the latest in a string of jihadist attacks to rock France.

France's interior minister on Friday dismissed a claim by the Islamic State (IS) group that it was responsible for the attack.

Police have been focusing their investigation on whether Chekatt had any help in carrying out his attack or while on the run.

In an interview broadcast on Saturday evening, a man identified as Cherif Chekatt's father said his son had become a follower of IS.

"He would say Daesh is fighting for a just cause," the man, named as Abdelkrim Chekatt, told France 2 television, using the Arabic acronym for IS.

"I told him 'Forget about Daesh, don't listen to what they say. Don't you see the atrocities they commit?'"

He added that he had had no knowledge of the attack.

"If he had told me about his plans, I would have reported him to the police, that way he would have not killed anyone or been killed himself," the man said.

Four family members of the gunman who went on a deadly shooting spree at a popular Christmas market in the French city of Strasbourg were released from custody on Saturday, the Paris prosecutor's office said.

Four family members of the gunman who went on a deadly shooting spree at a popular Christmas market in the French city of Strasbourg were released from custody on Saturday, the Paris prosecutor's office said. Three more people close to the attacker Cherif Chekatt, who was shot dead by police on Thursday, were still being held, it said. But his parents and two of his brothers were freed "due to the lack of incriminating evidence at this stage", the prosecutor's office added. More than 700 French security forces had been hunting for 29-year-old Chekatt since Tuesday night's bloodshed, in which four people died -- the latest in a string of jihadist attacks to rock France. France's interior minister on Friday dismissed a claim by the Islamic State (IS) group that it was responsible for the attack. Police have been focusing their investigation on whether Chekatt had any help in carrying out his attack or while on the run. In an interview broadcast on Saturday evening, a man identified as Cherif Chekatt's father said his son had become a follower of IS. "He would say Daesh is fighting for a just cause," the man, named as Abdelkrim Chekatt, told France 2 television, using the Arabic acronym for IS. "I told him 'Forget about Daesh, don't listen to what they say. Don't you see the atrocities they commit?'" He added that he had had no knowledge of the attack. "If he had told me about his plans, I would have reported him to the police, that way he would have not killed anyone or been killed himself," the man said.

Four family members of Strasbourg gunman released: Prosecutors

Hundreds of people turned out Friday for the funeral of Kamal Naghchband, a father-of-three who fled violence in Afghanistan only to be gunned down and killed in this week's <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/strasbourg-christmas-market-attacker-killed-after-gun-battle-183878">Strasbourg Christmas market attack</a>.&nbsp;

Naghchband, 45, had fled strife in Afghanistan to build a new life in France but became one of four people killed when a jihadist gunmen attacked the market in the northeastern French city on Tuesday.

"He was going to see the Christmas market and -- in front of his children -- he took a bullet," one of his cousins told AFP.

Described by relatives as friendly and something of a joker, Naghchband survived a day in hospital in a coma before succumbing to his wounds.&nbsp;

He was the joint manager of a garage near the Strasbourg mosque where he would go to pray and where his funeral was held on Friday.&nbsp;

"Our brother martyr Kamal tells us 'enjoy the moments you have in this world to do good'", Imam Eyup Sahin said, standing before a coffin covered with a green cloth and a smiling portrait of Naghchband.

"Do you think that Allah allows us to kill someone? It is impossible! Islam is a religion of peace (which) no act of terrorism can represent," he said.&nbsp;

"The Prophet says 'he who kills a person, it is as if he had killed all humanity," continued the Imam.&nbsp;

"The best human being," he added, is not "the one who is most helpful for Muslims, for Jews, Christians or atheists, but for all humanity".

Naghchband had lived in France for around 20 years. According to his Facebook page, he was from Kabul and studied in Mazar-i-Sharif, in the north of the country.&nbsp;

"He was charismatic, kind, and joked with everyone. People didn't go to his garage just to have their car repaired but to have coffee with him," said one relative.&nbsp;

"He was very welcoming."

After prayers, held in the courtyard of the mosque, Naghchband's body was covered with a French flag and carried before a large crowd of mourners to a cemetery in the south of the city.

One unnamed mourner described Naghchband as a force for good, whatever ills befell him.&nbsp;

"Whatever bad things were done to him, he only ever did good."&nbsp;

Hundreds of people turned out Friday for the funeral of Kamal Naghchband, a father-of-three who fled violence in Afghanistan only to be gunned down and killed in this week's Strasbourg Christmas market attack.

Hundreds of people turned out Friday for the funeral of Kamal Naghchband, a father-of-three who fled violence in Afghanistan only to be gunned down and killed in this week's Strasbourg Christmas market attack. Naghchband, 45, had fled strife in Afghanistan to build a new life in France but became one of four people killed when a jihadist gunmen attacked the market in the northeastern French city on Tuesday. "He was going to see the Christmas market and -- in front of his children -- he took a bullet," one of his cousins told AFP. Described by relatives as friendly and something of a joker, Naghchband survived a day in hospital in a coma before succumbing to his wounds. He was the joint manager of a garage near the Strasbourg mosque where he would go to pray and where his funeral was held on Friday. "Our brother martyr Kamal tells us 'enjoy the moments you have in this world to do good'", Imam Eyup Sahin said, standing before a coffin covered with a green cloth and a smiling portrait of Naghchband. "Do you think that Allah allows us to kill someone? It is impossible! Islam is a religion of peace (which) no act of terrorism can represent," he said. "The Prophet says 'he who kills a person, it is as if he had killed all humanity," continued the Imam. "The best human being," he added, is not "the one who is most helpful for Muslims, for Jews, Christians or atheists, but for all humanity". Naghchband had lived in France for around 20 years. According to his Facebook page, he was from Kabul and studied in Mazar-i-Sharif, in the north of the country. "He was charismatic, kind, and joked with everyone. People didn't go to his garage just to have their car repaired but to have coffee with him," said one relative. "He was very welcoming." After prayers, held in the courtyard of the mosque, Naghchband's body was covered with a French flag and carried before a large crowd of mourners to a cemetery in the south of the city. One unnamed mourner described Naghchband as a force for good, whatever ills befell him. "Whatever bad things were done to him, he only ever did good."

Father who fled Afghanistan only to die in Strasbourg laid to rest

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Four family members of Strasbourg gunman released: Prosecutors

Father who fled Afghanistan only to die in Strasbourg laid to rest