Paris Manhunt : Champs Élysées lockdown after gunman shot photographer in newspaper before attacking bank
This is the moment a terrorist brandishing a pump-action shotgun aimed and fired his weapon critically wounding a photographer in the lobby of a newspaper in central Paris.
Police have released CCTV of the wanted gunman who is the subject of a major manhunt in the French capital.
His victim, a 27-year-old, who has not been named, was on his first day at work in the headquarters of Liberation when he was shot in the chest and stomach.
Around 90 minutes later the same suspect opened fired on the headquarters of a major French bank just west of Paris, and a gunman took a man hostage briefly nearby.
Paris prosecutor is treating the shooting incidents as a terrorist case, a spokeswoman said
Staff reported shots ringing out soon after 10am, with people in the left-wing newspaper's lobby running for cover as others locked themselves into offices.
Suspect is believed to be white, shaven-headed, stout, 40s, wearing a khaki jacket and green trainers.
After targetting the bank, the same man hijacked a car nearby and forced the driver to drop him on the Champs-Elysees Avenue in central Paris, the driver told police.
French media say the hostage-taker told the motorist he was armed with a shotgun and grenades.
It is thought the gunman who fired on the newspaper offices today is the same man who fired shots at TV station offices on Friday.
The gunman's motive is not yet clear, but police have increased security in all three places as well as media offices around Paris.
Police have also advised members of the public to remain inside while the search for the gunman is underway.
'The gunman then ran off and has not been seen since,' said a source at the left-wing daily, which is often likened to Britain's Guardian because of its support for liberal causes.
It follows another gun attack on TV journalists in the French capital on Friday, with police exploring a link between the two incidents.
Media organisations around Paris were today surrounded by armed police because of fears that the gunman is targeting journalists and may strike again.
'Everything is being done to try and arrest this individual as soon as possible,' said French Interior Minister Manuel Valls during a visit to Liberation's offices.
He said the man 'represents a clear danger' and that 'here, in the centre of Paris, we cannot accept these acts.'
By late morning, the offices of Liberation in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris were surrounded by armed police officers, with roads around the building blocked.
Nicolas Demorand , the editorial director of Liberation, said: 'We are the horrified witnesses of a tragedy.
'When someone walks into a newspaper with a gun, that's very, very serious in a democracy, regardless of the mental state of that person.
'If papers and other media have to become bunkers, something has gone wrong in our society.'
A police spokesman said the Liberation photographer, an assistant who was due to be working on a magazine shoot today, was in a 'critical condition' and 'hovering between life and death'.
The spokesman said CCTV film was being studied in an attempt to identify the attacker.
President Francois Hollande, on an official visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, said 'all means' would be deployed to catch the attacker.
The Liberation shooting comes just three days after an armed man burst into the Paris offices of BFMTV, where he threatened journalists and staff, saying: 'Next time I won't miss you'.
Cartridges found at the scene of the BFMTV incident are thought to be the same as those found at Liberation's offices.
Liberation, which has a circulation of around 140,000, was founded in 1973 by the intellectual philosopher Jean-Paul Satre and the journalist Serge July.
Police have released CCTV of the wanted gunman who is the subject of a major manhunt in the French capital.
His victim, a 27-year-old, who has not been named, was on his first day at work in the headquarters of Liberation when he was shot in the chest and stomach.
Around 90 minutes later the same suspect opened fired on the headquarters of a major French bank just west of Paris, and a gunman took a man hostage briefly nearby.
Paris prosecutor is treating the shooting incidents as a terrorist case, a spokeswoman said
Staff reported shots ringing out soon after 10am, with people in the left-wing newspaper's lobby running for cover as others locked themselves into offices.
Suspect is believed to be white, shaven-headed, stout, 40s, wearing a khaki jacket and green trainers.
After targetting the bank, the same man hijacked a car nearby and forced the driver to drop him on the Champs-Elysees Avenue in central Paris, the driver told police.
French media say the hostage-taker told the motorist he was armed with a shotgun and grenades.
It is thought the gunman who fired on the newspaper offices today is the same man who fired shots at TV station offices on Friday.
The gunman's motive is not yet clear, but police have increased security in all three places as well as media offices around Paris.
Police have also advised members of the public to remain inside while the search for the gunman is underway.
'The gunman then ran off and has not been seen since,' said a source at the left-wing daily, which is often likened to Britain's Guardian because of its support for liberal causes.
It follows another gun attack on TV journalists in the French capital on Friday, with police exploring a link between the two incidents.
Media organisations around Paris were today surrounded by armed police because of fears that the gunman is targeting journalists and may strike again.
'Everything is being done to try and arrest this individual as soon as possible,' said French Interior Minister Manuel Valls during a visit to Liberation's offices.
He said the man 'represents a clear danger' and that 'here, in the centre of Paris, we cannot accept these acts.'
By late morning, the offices of Liberation in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris were surrounded by armed police officers, with roads around the building blocked.
Nicolas Demorand , the editorial director of Liberation, said: 'We are the horrified witnesses of a tragedy.
'When someone walks into a newspaper with a gun, that's very, very serious in a democracy, regardless of the mental state of that person.
'If papers and other media have to become bunkers, something has gone wrong in our society.'
A police spokesman said the Liberation photographer, an assistant who was due to be working on a magazine shoot today, was in a 'critical condition' and 'hovering between life and death'.
The spokesman said CCTV film was being studied in an attempt to identify the attacker.
President Francois Hollande, on an official visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, said 'all means' would be deployed to catch the attacker.
The Liberation shooting comes just three days after an armed man burst into the Paris offices of BFMTV, where he threatened journalists and staff, saying: 'Next time I won't miss you'.
Cartridges found at the scene of the BFMTV incident are thought to be the same as those found at Liberation's offices.
Liberation, which has a circulation of around 140,000, was founded in 1973 by the intellectual philosopher Jean-Paul Satre and the journalist Serge July.
Source : Telegraph , DailyMail
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