The Islamic State has taken responsibility for a terror attack in Paris, France that killed one police officer and wounded two other officers as well as a German tourist.
According to Fox News, the gunman opened fire on a police van on Paris’ Champs-Elysees boulevard. He was identified as 39-year-old Frenchman Karim Cheurfi.
The Islamic State was quick to take responsibility for the attack, perhaps as a way to boost the morale of their jihadists as the terrorist group has been losing ground recently.
The Islamic State went on to say that Cheurfi, whom they called Abu Yusuf al-Beljiki, was actually Belgian or had lived in Belgium.
This terrorist attack comes shortly before a major presidential election in France, and many are speculating that it will have significant consequences on that election.
The 11 candidates were actually appearing on a television program when the attack occurred. Several shared their thoughts and expressed their sympathy.
President Trump also responded to the attack, stating, “First of all, our condolences from our country to the people of France. Again, it is happening, it seems….It’s a very, very terrible thing that’s going on in the world today. It looks like another terrorist attack. What can you say? It just never ends. We have to be strong and we have to be vigilant, and I have been saying it for a long time.”
Photo: A woman kisses a flower near the Marks and Spencer on the Champs Elysees in Paris following yesterday's shooting of a police officer on April 21 2017 in Paris, France. One police officer was killed and another wounded in a shooting on Paris's Champs Elysees, police said just days ahead of France's presidential election. France's interior ministry said the attacker was killed in the incident on the world famous boulevard that is popular with tourists.
Photo courtesy: Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images
Publication date: April 21, 2017
