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STRASBOURG

Death toll from Strasbourg attack rises to five

A fifth victim wounded during an attack at a Christmas market in the French city of Strasbourg died on Sunday, authorities and relatives said.

Published: 17 December 2018 08:40 CET
Death toll from Strasbourg attack rises to five
Photo: AFP

The prosecutor's office confirmed Sunday that a Polish national had died after being injured by Cherif Chekatt in Tuesday's rampage.

“My brother Barto Pedro Orent-Niedzielski has just passed away. He thanks you for the love and strength you have given him,” the brother of the 36-year-old victim from the Polish city of Katowice wrote on Facebook.

Chekatt, 29, attacked Christmas market shoppers armed with a gun and a knife, before being killed by police two days later.

Orent-Niedzielski and his Italian friend Antonio Megalizzi had tried to stop Chekatt from entering a bar during Tuesday's assault, a close friend told AFP.

Megalizzi, 28, died from his injuries on Friday. 

Nicknamed “Bartek”, Orent-Niedzielski had lived in Strasbourg for 20 years, according to his friend.

Eleven people were also injured in the bloodbath, with several still in a critical condition.

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STRASBOURG

Hundreds gather to honour Strasbourg victims

Several hundred people gathered in Strasbourg on Sunday to honour the victims of an attack on the city's popular Christmas market that left four dead.

Published: 16 December 2018 13:50 CET
Hundreds gather to honour Strasbourg victims
The ceremony included music, singing and several readings. Photo: Sebastian Bozon/AFP
People, many in tears, gathered around a makeshift shrine of flowers and candles at the foot of the enormous Christmas tree at Kleber Square in the city centre.
   
The ceremony, organised by local rights associations with the approval of the city authorities, included music, singing and several readings. 
   
The traditional minute of silence was replaced by a minute of noise, during which people shouted and applauded to express their solidarity with the victims.
   
Earlier on Sunday, police in the eastern French city, which is home to the European Parliament, released two close associates of the attacker, Cherif Chekatt who was on a French list of possible extremist security risks.
 
 
With the release Saturday of Chakett's parents and two of his brothers, that leaves only one person of the seven originally detained still in custody.   
 
Chekatt was shot dead by police on Thursday after a manhunt that involved more than 700 members of the security forces.
   
The 29-year-old native of the city attacked Strasbourg's Christmas market on Tuesday armed with a gun and a knife, killing four and wounding 11 others.
   
Police have been focusing their investigation on whether Chekatt had any help in carrying out his attack or during the two days he was on the run.
   
France's interior minister on Friday dismissed a claim by the Islamic State group that it was responsible for the attack
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