Greece Condemns Deadly Paris Attack

“Democracy cannot be intimidated,” the Greek foreign ministry said in a message via Twitter to the French people condemning the terror attack on Thursday, by a suspected Islamist militant near the busy Arc de Triomphe on Champs Elysees Avenue in Paris, which killed a police officer.

“We strongly condemn terrorism and stand at the side of the French people,” the foreign ministry concluded.

According to the latest police reports, French authorities had already placed 39-year-old Karim Cheurfi on a watch list before he fired a Kalashnikov on Thursday, killing a 37-year-old policeman and wounding two officers before he fled on foot.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack.

Cheurfi, who was released from prison last year, had tried to get weapons and threatened to kill police officers but was let go in early March due to lack of evidence. Weapons were found in the car, a grey Audi, he used for Thursday’s attack. Cheurfi was later gunned down by armed police.

The act of terrorism has propelled the issue of national security to the top of the French political agenda ahead of the first round of voting for the presidential elections this Sunday.

Terrorists struck Paris in November 2015 in the northern suburb of Saint-Denis with suicide bombers killing 130 people including 89 at the Bataclan theatre during a concert. In July 2016, a cargo truck rammed into crowds celebrating Bastille Day in Nice, killing 86 people.