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Subscribe to RSSA gunman on a motorbike opened fire on three French paratroopers at a bank machine in southern France, killing two and critically wounding one of them Thursday, officials said. It was the second such attack in a week targeting French soldiers in a public place.
The incident occurred in Montauban around 2:10 p.m. local time (9:10 a.m. ET), police said, according to France's Le Figaro newspaper (link in French).
The incident follows a shooting on Sunday in Toulouse, 29 miles south of Montauban, in which a gunman on a motorcycle shot dead another soldier.
The three soldiers, who were reportedly wearing their uniforms, were near some shops and a bank when the helmeted gunman opened fire and then fled on his scooter, Le Figaro said.
The BBC reported that the soldiers were trying to withdraw cash from an ATM near a military base housing France's 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment. Montauban is some 390 miles southwest of Paris.
Two paratroopers -- aged 26 and 24 years old, respectively -- died on the spot. The third, 28, was critically injured.
Defense Minister Gerard Longuet expressed his condolences to the soldiers, their families and their regiment. French officials said a large number of police officers are searching for the gunman.
Earlier, the Defense Ministry had issued a statement saying all three paratroopers had died, but a local police official and a Defense Ministry official later said one of them was in critical condition.
The motives for the shootings are unclear. Police said further investigation was needed before they could determine whether the attacks were linked.
Witnesses said Sunday's attacker was also on a motorcycle and wearing a helmet, according Toulouse Prosecutor Michel Valet.
Valet said the soldier in that attack was on his day off. He was in the courtyard of a gym in a residential neighborhood during the afternoon when the attacker opened fire, then fled. The soldier was shot in the head.
The solider served in the 1st paratrooper train regiment, based in Francazal, south of Toulouse.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
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Hmmm, i wonder if this has anything to do with the French involvement in all of the illegal US invasions and their open air policy to immigration?
It's sad that those two men were killed for absolutely nothing but terrible foreign policy.
Thank you for you stupid opinion.
Your huge assumption is noted -
And thank you for yours.
Huge assumption? Each of you can say what you want but we all know what's going on with the recent shootings and the type of individuals who would have an interest in carrying out such indiscriminate violence against the soldiers in question. This coming on the heels of the Qur'an burnings and recent civilian murders in Afghanistan is no coincidence.
Id E It
Maybe they were shot just because they were French. Seems like enough of a reason to me.
SOno - it's a shame you know nothing and yet use that nothing to try to make a political point - Do you know the mathematical result of multiplying by zero?
Sure he knows, it's the same as his IQ.
Anyone else remember all those "this guy is obviously a stinky raghead islamofascist" comments that appeared on here before they released the identity of that Norway shooter last year?
France does have one of the largest Muslim populations in Europe, they also have a very large number of Muslim extremists. the murder and tactics demonstrated are textbook radical Muslims. Time for France to reclaim their country - a massive deportation of Muslim's back to their country of origin should be not only the goal but the policy
Could it be the Algerians again?
motive?
likely muslims...France has a huge muslim population of North African and Arab expatriots.
ETA???
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basque_nationalism
The French paratroopers (Airborne base nearby Montauban) - three (3) were withdrawing cash from an ATM on a sidewalk,when a shooter on a scooter opened fire at them. Two died on the spot the 3rd paratooper in a hospital- Their ages 26,24,28. (You can see on French TFI TV channel). Last Sunday a shooter on a motorbike opened fire in Toulouse (46 km from Montauban) and shot dead a French soldier. Police is not commenting whether these two incidents related.
@Scar-414733
Basque separatists were the first thing that came to my mind as well.
Shot in the back says a lot about the brave assailants.
No motive necessary. But when the French authorities find the culprit (or culprits), they will most likely powder his ass and take VERY good care of the perpetrator for the rest of his life, plus seeing to all of his needs (that's if they don't let him out early for "Good behavior"). I doubt it's much like the '73 movie "Papillon" where prisoners were treated like crap in a cesspool of a prison in French Guiana, but that's exactly what they deserve!
Yup. Basque was the first thing I thought about. Hit Scar's (above) link.
Could be something else, but that's where I'd start looking.
ETA is supposed to have a ceasefire with Spain and France, but there's still a lot of animosity there. Not saying that's who it is, but it's the first thing I thought as well.
Don't look down on the Basque people though. My GF lives in Algorta and they really are good people. Another case of a minority giving a larger group a bad name, if it's the case.
Where has that paratrooper unit served lately?
Devil's Son: From what I could search out . Afghanistan, Lebanon , and the Balkans (Kosovo). I believe It's the only Engineering unit in their Special Forces.
My sympathies to the young mens families.
@ Waldo....If the French authorities get the perp, it will be more likely a "road accident" or some other form of extrajudicial termination. They have good hitmen on their staffs that do these sort of things....
The assailant escaped on a "Scooter"? I thought those things top out at 30 mph!
the gunman is a very good shot, huh?
perhaps from the military?
PAUL: Like the Fort Hood scenario??? Definite possibility.
Sounds like something that would happen in Iraq or Afghanstan. I wonder whether the gunman is from that region.
Not necessarily. France has had political assasinations in the past. It just goes to prove that we do not
have a monopoly on fruitcakes.
Since 'Sono' started this:
Hmm, I wonder if this has anything to do with 'Sono' making a non-sensical remark.
Might be Religion of Peace striking over anti-burka laws.
Have any hard proof?
that's why I said - might be.
AndrewST - That was a stupid statement... Gotta have a valid backing on that.
not stupid at all - just a guesstimate due to an incredible multitude of other Religion of Peace "peaceful" activities on this planet.
I agree with Andrew. And anyone who says that Muslim extremists didn't come to mind when they read the report is full of B.S.
I sure had the same thought when I read the article. They guy has a right to his opinion unless it offensive to you.
Actually,since it was in South West France,my first thought was ETA,second was Muslims. But which ever terrorist group it was they need to be stopped.
Hmm...others earlier suggested Basque separatists, but no one's demanded "hard proof" or "valid backing" there. Why?
yscysc: yes, Lowe & SRK wants a law not a theory. Probably , doesn't know the difference or has some emotional baggage in the equation.
Did the gunman shout anything about "Allah" as he rode away? Maybe a bit swarthy looking with a beard?
No no. He was shouting something about 'Illuhina'.
Or better yet, a man with a beard dressed in a robe screaming "In the name of Christ!!!!".
You must be a lib trying to defend the neanderthals by creating false equivalences.
Sounds plausible on the face of it. How come it never happens?
Adam we have our home grown ones too and they usually are the far right screaming "baby killer" or something like it.
Could be a crazy Progressive like Jarid, the liberal that tried to kill Congresswoman Gifford. Or maybe they were mad that the soldiers has something leather on ( PETA ). Or they were mad about Capitalism (OWS)
They're quite rare though, at least the ones who kill. Not rare for Islam unfortunately.
That they're willing or ready to tell the French citizens.
Appears to be a pattern here, given the masked cyclist, soldiers, and proximity. Sounds like someone is trying to exact revenge for something that recently occured...
Interesting - I didn't know France had a military.
Their battle flag is white.
Bloody the French' nose and they quit. Loveurs not fighteurs.
Surrender comes from the French language.
HAW HAW HAW, good one!
Three military families are missing their sons , fathers and husbands . And you make a joke of it???
No doubt , your safe , and privileged.
No scar I'm not safe. Neither are you. No one is in this day and age.
BTW - Not privileged either. Know many privileged people that retried from the Army as an enlisted Soldier?
Are you frilling psychic? Then quit making ASS-umptions!
Scar I am a 100% service-connected disabled veteran so please ask before making such an assumption. Thanks.
Boy! Sounds like the French need to ease up on their gun control laws - get more guns on the street, more guns on the hips of vigilante "peace officers" so that their country will be free of gun violence and gun deaths ....like ours! What are they thinking! More guns!
Ah ah! Recall me: Is it not in your "safe country" that a gunfight occured in a high school cafeteria which resulted in 3 casualties? Columbine? Virginia Tech?
More guns wont resolve anything! The most dangerous is not the gun itself, it's the one who's holding it!
Beware of rag-tag Muslims on two-wheelers.
This makes no sense, they were French Military, why not just put your finger in your pocket, they'll surrender to you???
It's Muslims. If you haven't noticed (ALL OVER THE WORLD) they really get off killing people.
Well, this article certainly sucked up a collection of idiots.
Thank you for joining in!
Julie yer sooooooo bad.....great chuckle.
Could somebody please kick in a quarter so Julie can try to buy a more meaningful life?
Well said DrPat51. I don't know which is more depressing, the stories themselves or the posted remarks. Time for a happy, cute animal story for my sanity.
Did you see the cute little bunny story today in Germany? A cameraman accidentally stepped on him and killed him at his own press conference.
French troops are in Afghanistan. Lots of muslims in France. A new way for the religion of peace followers to fight back Western presence?
I'm sorry, but they lost me when the gunmen fled on their "scooter". No self respecting gunman would be caught dead on a scooter!
m.o. ... hide your identity to cause death and/or injury to others, that way you can vacilate on your convictions; what a coward.
unbeliavable-3571258, Did see bunny story! Sorry for bunny, but had to chuckle, poor guy. Life happens, doesn't it.
unbeliavable-3571258, Did see bunny story! Sorry for bunny, but had to chuckle, poor guy. Life happens, doesn't it.
unbelievable-3571258, Did see bunny story! Sorry for bunny, but had to chuckle, poor guy. Life happens, doesn't it.
You know what, all muslim who don't like Europeans and Americans should go back to muslim countries. If muslim is so that good than anything else, why do they want to live in foreign lands? Just go back to their religious home lands and do and kill as they feel please. I believe that people are getting tired of this particular situation and they will take the law in their own hands.
So you're advocating violence against religious groups you disagree with?
Good!
I'm going to have a sign made and put it at the end of my driveway that says "Proselytizing Will Be Reciprocated With Gunfire".
Then the next time a group of christians steps around the gate because it isn't completely closed and make the quarter mile trek up my driveway to my house to try and "save" me, I'm going to engage in a bit of target practice.
Thanks for the justification, Raoul! :D
Breaking News Update: France has surrendered to the gunman.
Chris - 629698 Cheap shot when these men were shot in the back.
Never known a Frenchman to face a gun like a man.
I doubt you'd last long trying to face a French para.
Papillion comes to mind!