The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack. More than 240 people have been killed in France in attacks since 2015 by assailants who pledged allegiance to Islamic State or were inspired by the group. "He raised his gun and fired, I ran away, he shouted 'Allahu Akbar' and spoke about the Islamic State. Almost six years ago to the day, Islamist gunman Mohammed Merah killed seven people in the Toulouse region, about 90 km from Carcassonne. Islamic State also claimed responsibility for that attack.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 23, 2018 19:18 UTC