Islamic State claims responsibility for Paris terror attack

Just days before the first round of voting in the French presidential election, there has been a terrorist attack on the Champs Elysees. A gunman opened fire on police officers, killing one and wounding two others. The terrorist was shot dead at the scene. Islamic State have claimed responsibility for the attack.The claim says that the attacker is Abu Yusuf-al-Belgiki. This is fast by the group’s standards, suggesting some level of prior knowledge on their part.

Candidates are already cancelling campaign rallies scheduled for tomorrow. But given that the man appears to have crossed into the country from Belgium, it is inevitable that this attack will push the issue of Islamist terrorism and the security of France’s borders up the agenda in the days before the vote.