Three dead and three others injured after gunman opens fire in central Paris

Three people have died and three others have been left injured after a gunman opened fire in a Kurdish cultural centre in Paris, police have said.

A 69-year-old man was arrested following the incident in the French capital’s 10th arrondissement.

The Paris prosecutor’s office has opened a murder investigation.

It said the suspect had a prior police record, including an arrest for attacking migrants living in tents, and that investigators are considering a possible racist motive for the shooting.

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said three people who were hit in the shooting have died, one is in a critical condition and two others are in hospital with less serious injuries.

Police have taped off the area in the 10th arrondissement of the French capital, on a busy street with shops and restaurants near the Gare de l’Est railway station, with people warned to stay away.

In a tweet, the force confirmed “police intervention” was in progress around the area.

#Paris10 rue d'Enghien, intervention de police en cours. ➡️ Une personne interpellée
🔴 Évitez le secteur et laissez les services de secours intervenir pic.twitter.com/5C5wcKCCHk
— Préfecture de Police (@prefpolice) December 23, 2022

The shooting occurred at around 11am GMT at a Kurdish cultural centre and a restaurant and hairdresser nearby, according to the mayor for the 10th arrondissement, Alexandra Cordebard.

Speaking to reporters at the scene, she said the “real motivation” for the shooting remains unclear

The attacker was also wounded and is being treated in hospital, Ms Cordebard said.

First deputy mayor of Paris, Emmanuel Grégoire offered condolences to those impacted by the shooting, and announced a “medico-psychological” centre had been set up close to the scene.

Une attaque à l’arme à feu a eu lieu. Merci aux forces de l’ordre de leur action rapide. La Maire @ACORDEBARD se rend sur place. Nous échangeons avec @prefpolice et le Parquet pour comprendre ce qui s’est passé. Pensées pour les victimes et les témoins de ce drame. https://t.co/IYQSExmPY9
— Emmanuel Grégoire (@egregoire) December 23, 2022

In 2013, three women Kurdish activists, including Sakine Cansiz – a founder of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK – were found shot dead at a Kurdish centre in Paris.

A Turkish citizen was charged with their killing, although suspicion also fell on the Turkish intelligence service.

Turkey’s army has been battling against Kurdish militants affiliated with the banned PKK, in south-east Turkey as well as in northern Iraq.

France was hit by a string of deadly attacks by Islamic extremists in 2015-2016 and remains on alert for terrorism-related violence.