A Gunman shoots four people dead including a six-month old baby and wounds several others at a French Roma camp

A gunman has reportedly shot dead four people and injured several others at a Roma camp in Roye, northern France.
A man, a woman and a six-month old child were killed in the deadly attack, which started at 4:30pm local time. A fourth victim, a police officer, has also reportedly died from their wounds.
The gunman was eventually arrested after he was seriously injured in a firefight with the polic



Helping hand: Police officers help a journalist after he was aggressed by Roma people near a campsite



The gun attack reportedly took place at the Roma camp in the commune of Roye, northern France

Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve told reporters three people had been killed 'in cold blood' including a six-month-old baby, a man and a woman.

A three-year-old child and another policemen were both said to be in serious condition. The toddler went into cardiac arrest and has been put under ventilatory support, local authorities said.

Witnesses said a fight erupted in the camp and a man, who may have been drunk, started shooting when police turned up to investigate. The gunman was also said to be in serious condition.

'This is a really tragic case,' Cazeneuve told reporters, saying the family had been 'decimated by the killer'.

 A police officer stands guard near a Roma campsite after a shooting which left four people dead

A police helicopter flies over the scene, where the gunman was eventually seriously injured by a gunshot wound and arrested by police after a short firefight

President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister Manuel Valls expressed shock over the incident, sending their condolences to the families of the dead and wounded.

'My thoughts are with the families, with the victims and the policeman killed in the service of France,' said Valls on Twitter.

In a statement released by his office, Hollande hailed the 'courage and commitment' of the police officers who responded to the incident, extending condolences to the families of those killed and injured in the attack.

France has been on high alert since three jihadist gunmen went on a killing spree in and near Paris in January, leaving 17 dead in their wake.

Standby: Gendarmes have been guarding the camp since the shocking attack took place at 4:30pm local time

Following the foiled train attack, President Francois Hollande told a gathering of French diplomats on Tuesday that France must prepare for further attacks

Following the foiled train attack, President Francois Hollande told a gathering of French diplomats on Tuesday that France must prepare for further attacks.

'The aggression that took place on Friday... which could have degenerated into a monstrous carnage... is fresh proof that we must prepare for other attacks and therefore protect ourselves,' Hollande said. 

Hollande's comments came after gunman Ayoub El-Khazzani was tackled to the ground by three Americans and a Briton as he walked through a Amsterdam-to-Paris train carrying an assault rifle and other weapons.

El Khazzani is expected to remain in custody and will eventually face a criminal trial for 'attempted murders in relation to a terrorist enterprise'. French authorities have until Tuesday evening to charge or release Khazzani.