Gunman Shot, Critically Injured Newspaper Photographer, Manhunt To Continue

A manhunt is under way in Paris after two separate shootings, including one at a newspaper that left a man fighting for his life.

A photographer's assistant was seriously injured at the offices of the Liberation newspaper before another shooting about two hours later outside the headquarters of Societe Generale bank.
In a third incident, a man was taken hostage close to the bank and forced to drive to the Champs-Elysees before being released.

Police said descriptions of the car-jacker matched that of the gunman. Shotgun cartridges found after both attacks also match up.
There are unconfirmed reports that the lone suspect may be carrying grenades.

The hostage was released on the Champs-Elysees

Officers are guarding media offices across Paris and are investigating a link with an incident on Friday when a man with a shotgun threatened journalists at a French news channel.
Police said that CCTV images of the shooter suggested he was the same man who had stormed into the headquarters of BFMTV on Friday.
In that attack the man brandishing a shotgun warned a senior editor: "Next time, I will not miss you."

Police stand guard outside the Liberation newspaper office

The victim at the Liberation newspaper was shot in the chest and arm, according to police union spokesman Christophe Crepin.
The shooter reportedly entered the lobby of the building wearing a bulletproof vest just before 10.15am, fired several shots with a pump-action shotgun and then fled.

Liberation said the 27-year-old victim is in a critical condition at the city's Pitie-Salpetriere hospital.
Liberation journalist Anastasia Vecrin said she saw a man "lying on the ground, holding his stomach and with blood everywhere" as she arrived at work.
"I met two of the reception staff who were completely white and who told me: 'We've just been shot at'," she said.

The second shooting was outside the Societe Generale headquarters

No one was injured at the bank shooting, according to a Societe Generale spokesperson.
Police confirmed three shots were fired outside the building, located in La Defense district, which is about six miles (10km) from the newspaper's office.

Francisco Alvarez, who witnessed the shooting at La Defense, said: "I saw this guy with a cap and a shotgun, a pump-action shotgun, in his hand.
"I don't think he was necessarily targeting anyone, he shot in the air then into a window.
"The first shot shocked everyone into silence and then the second caused a general panic. Then he ran away down the steps to the street."

France's Interior Minister Manuel Valls speaks to media after the attack

Freelance journalist Peter Allen, who is on the Champs-Elysees, said: "The hunt is on for this man.
"He has been described as between 40 and 45 years old, stout, shaven headed, wearing a cap and jeans.

"Rather disturbing reports say he is actually brandishing hand grenades as well as a shotgun.
"No one has seen him for a while and there are reports that he disappeared down into the Metro system - specifically line one - a hugely popular line full of tourists at all times of the day."
French President Francois Hollande said in a statement he had ordered authorities to "mobilise all means to clarify the circumstances of these acts and arrest the perpetrator or perpetrators".