The father of the 29-year-old terror suspect in last week's deadly Christmas market attack in France says his son was a follower of Islamic State.
The state-run TV channel France 2 showed an interview with Abdelkrim Chekatt on Saturday night, two days after the son was killed in a confrontation with three police officers in his childhood neighbourhood in Strasbourg following a massive manhunt.
Four people died in the attack on Tuesday night.
The father said he had last seen Cherif Chekatt three days before the attack.
He said he'd tried in the past to dissuade his son from believing IS propaganda.
Cherif Chekatt was shot dead following the deadly Strasbourg Christmas market shooting. Source: AAP
The father and mother and two siblings were among seven people held for questioning. French media reported that the family members were released.
Following the shooting, a large-scale manhunt began for the 29-year-old, with more than 700 French security troops mobolised.
The gunman was founded by French soldiers following the shooting and was later cornered by police.
The Christmas market has reopened but the security presence still remains. Source: Getty Images
The famed Christmas market re-opened on Friday.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed "the solidarity of the whole country" towards the victims as he arrived for a European summit in Brussels.
"It is not only France that has been hit... but a great European city as well," he added, referring to the seat of the European parliament in the eastern French city that lies on the border with Germany.
A woman lights a candle near the Strasbourg Christmas market. Source: Sebastian Gollnow/DPA/ABACAPRESS.COM
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