Thursday’s deadly attack on Paris police jolted the first round of France’s upcoming Presidential election, with several of the leading candidates canceling campaign events and issuing last-minute statements regarding terrorism and national security.
The attack, which occurred on the Champs Elysees around 9pm local time, left one police officer dead and two others wounded. French police killed the gunman shortly after the attack during an exchange of fire. Though the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, local authorities have yet to confirm a connection between the suspected shooter and the terrorist group.
“We believe the attack is of a terrorist nature,” French President Francois Hollande said in an evening address to the nation.
Paris prosecutor Francois Molins identified the attacker Friday as Karim Cheurfi, a 39-year old man from a Paris suburb. He also confirmed Cheurfi was arrested in February on suspicion to kill police, but was ultimately released due to lack of evidence. He added that at the time, there was no evidence of any connection with any radical Islamist movement.
AFP reported Friday a note praising Islamic State, or ISIS, was found near the body of the attacker.
The first round of France’s two-part Presidential election is scheduled for this Sunday, April 23.
Marine Le Pen, leader of the far right National Front party, issued a strongly worded statement Friday morning condemning “Islamism” and criticizing the country’s policies towards immigration and security.
“We cannot afford to lose this war. But for the past 10 years, left-wing and right-wing governments have done everything they can for us to lose it. We need the presidency which acts and protects us,” Le Pen told reporters outside National Front Headquarters.
Francois Fillon, a conservative, called for a global coalition to combat “Islamic totalitarianism” telling reporters, “Radical Islam is challenging our values and our strength of character” while emphasizing his foreign policy prioritizes “destroying the Islamic State.”
Centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron offered a more measured response, telling a French radio station, “I think we must, one and all, have a spirit of responsibility at this extreme time and not give in to panic and not allow it to be exploited, which some might try to do.”
Jean-Luc Melenchon, a leftist candidate, wrote on Twitter after the attack, “I strongly feel for the policemen killed and wounded and their families. Terrorist attacks will never go unpunished, accomplices never forgotten.”
Le Pen, Fillon, and Macron all canceled previously scheduled campaign events for Friday.
While the gunman’s name has not been officially released by authorities, an initial statement by the Islamic State group identified the attacker as Abu-Yusaf al-Balkiki of Belgium; Belgium’s Interior Minister Jan Jambon quickly denied the claim on Friday.
“The guy who yesterday did the act was not a Belgian. He was French,” said Jambon, according to the Associated Press.
A second individual who is suspected to be linked to the shooting turned himself in to authorities in Antwerp, Belgium on Friday. His connection to the shooting has not been confirmed.
Thursday’s deadly attack on Paris police jolted the first round of France’s upcoming Presidential election, with several of the leading candidates canceling campaign events and issuing last-minute statements regarding terrorism and national security.
The attack, which occurred on the Champs Elysees around 9pm local time, left one police officer dead and two others wounded. French police killed the gunman shortly after the attack during an exchange of fire. Though the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, local authorities have yet to confirm a connection between the suspected shooter and the terrorist group.
“We believe the attack is of a terrorist nature,” French President Francois Hollande said in an evening address to the nation.
AFP reported Friday a note praising Islamic State, or ISIS, was found near the body of the attacker.
The first round of France’s two-part Presidential election is scheduled for this Sunday, April 23.
Marine Le Pen, leader of the far right National Front party, issued a strongly worded statement Friday morning condemning “Islamism” and criticizing the country’s policies towards immigration and security.
“We cannot afford to lose this war. But for the past 10 years, left-wing and right-wing governments have done everything they can for us to lose it. We need the presidency which acts and protects us,” Le Pen told reporters outside National Front Headquarters.
Francois Fillon, a conservative, called for a global coalition to combat “Islamic totalitarianism” telling reporters, “Radical Islam is challenging our values and our strength of character” while emphasizing his foreign policy prioritizes “destroying the Islamic State.”
Centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron offered a more measured response, telling a French radio station, “I think we must, one and all, have a spirit of responsibility at this extreme time and not give in to panic and not allow it to be exploited, which some might try to do.”
Jean-Luc Melenchon, a leftist candidate, wrote on Twitter after the attack, “I strongly feel for the policemen killed and wounded and their families. Terrorist attacks will never go unpunished, accomplices never forgotten.”
Le Pen, Fillon, and Macron all canceled previously scheduled campaign events for Friday.
While the gunman’s name has not been officially released by authorities, an initial statement by the Islamic State group identified the attacker as Abu-Yusaf al-Balkiki of Belgium; Belgium’s Interior Minister Jan Jambon quickly denied the claim on Friday.
“The guy who yesterday did the act was not a Belgian. He was French,” said Jambon, according to the Associated Press.
AFP reported the suspect was known to anti-terror police and had been previously arrested in February on suspicion to kill police, but was ultimately released due to lack of evidence.
A second individual who is suspected to be linked to the shooting turned himself in to authorities in Antwerp, Belgium on Friday. His connection to the shooting has not been confirmed.
Verdi Tzou is a national security web editor at The Cipher Brief.
