By 9.30pm sources told French media that the shooter had not been located and that the shooting was being considered as a terror attack. This has not been confirmed officially.

France said its anti-terror prosecutor was assessing the situation.

“Serious public security event under way in Strasbourg. Residents are asked to stay at home,” the French interior ministry said in a tweet.

“Shooting in Strasbourg’s city centre. Thanks to all for staying at home until the situation has been clarified,” deputy mayor Alain Fontanel said in a tweet.

Unconfirmed reports on social media said police officers shouted to passersby ‘take cover, terrorist’.

The Strasbourg-based European Parliament was on lockdown after reports of the shooting emerged, with MEPs, staff and journalists unable to leave the building, an AFP reporter said.

The parliament is currently in plenary session, with hundreds of MEPs and officials having made the monthly visit to Strasbourg from Brussels.

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The Christmas market in Strasbourg is an annual tourist attraction that draws hundreds of thousands of people.

Security has been stepped up in recent years after a series of attacks in France by Islamist gunmen since 2015.

Special anti-terror army units have been deployed and soldiers and armed police are regularly seen patrolling among the 300 wooden chalets that make up the market.

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