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Strasbourg Christmas market attacker pledges allegiance to Islamic state in video: Judicial source

Strasbourg Christmas market attacker pledges allegiance to Islamic state in video: Judicial source

Strasbourg shooting

Strasbourg Christmas market attacker pledged allegiance to Islamic State in a video, news agency AFP reported citing judicial source.

The video was found in a USB key belonging to Cherif Chekatt, 29, who was shot and killed by police after a two-day manhunt in the city following the December 11 attack.

Islamic State claimed that Chekatt was one of its soldiers, who "carried out the operation in response to calls for targeting citizens of coalition countries" fighting the militant group, according to a statement on its Amaq news website.

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A gunman on a security watchlist killed at least five people and wounded at least 11 others near the picturesque Christmas market in the historic French city of Strasbourg on December 11.

French security forces on December 13 night killed the suspect, Cherif Chekatt, 29, who was allegedly responsible for the attack.

French interior minister Christophe Castaner said three police tried to question Chekatt after spotting him "wandering" through the streets in the Neudorf area of the northeastern French city when he opened fire, the officer's immediately returned fire leading to the death of the suspect.

Chekatt had committed crimes across France, Germany and Switzerland and had at least 27 convictions against him.