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Strasbourg shooting: Welsh MEP hid in darkness for six hours

Reuters Police in Strasbourg. 11 Dec 2018Reuters
Three people were killed and 12 others wounded in the shooting

A Wales MEP hid in silence and darkness for six hours as police searched for the gunman following a shooting at Strasbourg Christmas market.

Derek Vaughan, a Labour member of the European Parliament, was in a nearby restaurant when three people were killed and 12 wounded in the city.

He had passed the square where it happened 30 minutes before.

The suspect, known to French security services, escaped after exchanging fire with soldiers and police on Tuesday.

"A short time after arriving (at the restaurant), a worker made an announcement. The lights went off and we sat in darkness for six hours in total silence," Mr Vaughan said.

"People were scared. There was a lot of military action outside with soldiers running past on a regular basis.

"We thought the terrorist was holed up in a property quite near."

Derek Vaughan
Derek Vaughan, a Labour member of the European Parliament, walked past the scene of the shooting minutes before

The shooting happened close to a popular Christmas market near one of the city's central squares, Place Kléber at about 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT).

Mr Vaughan added: "We walked past about 30 minutes before it happened.

"Actually, a few of us thought about sitting on the square before for a drink. It is fortunate we didn't."

Mr Vaughan described soldiers in "full military dress and masks" coming into the restaurant at about 02:30 and escorting customers to a safe area.

He was then able to return to his hotel.

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"It's very sad, the Christmas market is one of the best in Europe, in the square there were lots of people, a huge Christmas tree, ice rink, people enjoying themselves," he said.

Mr Vaughan said his thoughts were with the families of those killed and the injured.

He described "a very sombre atmosphere" in Strasbourg on Wednesday, saying: "There's obviously a lot of security in the city centre today.

"We get the impression the shooter is not caught and the search is continuing."

Mr Vaughan - who is one of four Welsh MEPs - is due to return to Wales after European Parliament business is finished in Strasbourg on Thursday.