Reuters / Vincent Kessler
French authorities have detained five people in the hunt for a suspected extremist who opened fire on a Christmas market in Strasbourg, killing three and wounding at least 13. Police say the 29-year-old suspect, Cherif Chekatt, was wounded in a gunfight with soldiers after the Tuesday night attack but he escaped, possibly over the border to Germany. Chekatt is reported to have a criminal record mentioning 25 cases including several serious cases of robbery. His apartment was searched by police Tuesday morning— hours before the shooting—in an investigation for attempted murder. It’s not known what roles police believe the five detained people may have had in the attack—the motive is still unclear. Eight of the injured are in serious condition; the city’s mayor said some had head wounds. France has gone on high alert as the manhunt continues.