France interior min: Strasbourg gunman might have fled to Germany

The French deputy interior minister has acknowledged that Strasbourg gunman may no longer be in France.

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said the country had issued an "urgence attentat" (emergency attack) alert, expanding police powers and creating the highest degree of vigilance.

He added that border controls had been strengthened and security at all Christmas markets would be stepped up.

The mayor of Strasbourg, Roland Ries, has said the Christmas market will be closed on Wednesday and flags lowered to half-mast at the local town hall.

A gunman, 29, opened fire at a Christmas market in the eastern city of Strasbourg on Tuesday night.

Three people were killed and 13 wounded, eight of them seriously.

The gunman exchanged fire with officers who were patrolling the area as part of anti-terror measures.

It is thought he was injured. According to Castaner, the man "fought twice with our security forces".

According to France's BFM TV, he managed to reach a taxi which drove him away from the scene and dropped him in the vicinity of the police station in Neudorf, the area where he is understood to live which sits on the border between Germany and France.

It was the taxi driver who told police the man was wounded in his left leg.

Residents in Neudorf have been urged to stay indoors.