ISIS Claims Responsibility For Paris Terror Attack

Cortney wrote about the horrific shooting in Paris this afternoon, where police officers were targeted. One police officer is confirmed to be have been killed in the attack. The shooting occurred in the Champs Elysées Avenue of the French capital. President François Hollande said that he’s convinced that this incident is terror-related and French prosecutors have launched a terrorism investigation. The suspect was reportedly flagged as an extremist, according to the Associated Press. Now, the Islamic State has claimed responsibility (via WaPo):

A gunman opened fire on French police Thursday on a renowned Paris boulevard, killing one and wounding two others before being fatally shot himself in an incident that shook France just three days before a crucial election.

The French Interior Ministry, confirming the shooting, said two police officers were “seriously wounded” and that security forces gunned down the attacker. The ministry said the person fired on a police car. Two officials said the gunman used an assault rifle.

French news media, citing the Islamic State-affiliated Amaq news agency, reported that the terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that it was carried out by a Belgian national identified only as Abu Yusuf. It was not immediately possible to confirm that the Islamic State was behind the shooting.