A manhunt is underway in France for Cherif Chekatt, who authorities say killed several people and wounded a dozen more at a Christmas market. He's a known religious extremist with 27 prior convictions across three countries, radicalized in prison. Matthew Larotonda reports. A show of solidarity in the city of Strasbourg. We're learning more now about Cherif Chekatt, the suspected gunman who authorities say killed several people and wounded about a dozen others at a Christmas market in the French city on Tuesday (December 12) night and is now on the run. Authorities say that on the morning before the attack they had raided the home of the 29-year-old French national in connection to a homicide investigation, and arrested five other people at that scene. Chekatt was a known religious extremist who was already considered a potential security risk by authorities. He had 27 prior convictions across France, Switzerland and Germany on charges including theft and is believed to have been radicalized in prison. He was even deported from Germany to France at one point, although France says they saw no evidence he was planning an attack. Now the French-German border is being combed in an effort to find him. Witnesses say he shouted "Allahu akbar," Arabic for "God is greatest," during the attack. A local taxi driver told French media that Chekatt hijacked his car to escape. He is believed to have been wounded in gunfights with authorities. More than 600 police and soldiers are hunting the terror suspect - named as locally born Cherif Chekatt, who was known to police as a violent criminal. A terror investigation has been launched and the city is on total lockdown as they search for the 29-year-old who had been deemed a "threat to the state". Continue reading: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/7955548/strasbourg-terrorist-escapes-cops-hijacking-taxi-shooting-christmas/ Strasbourg terrorist escapes cops by hijacking taxi after shooting dead two in Christmas market attack: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/7955548/strasbourg-terrorist-escapes-cops-hijacking-taxi-shooting-christmas/ Strasbourg shooting – here’s the latest advice from the Foreign Office if you’re travelling to France: https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/7958068/strasbourg-shooting-foreign-office-advice/ ‘Radicalised’ gunman who shot dead two in Christmas market terror attack was known ‘threat to the state’: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/7958163/gunman-shot-dead-three-christmas-market-criminal-past/ Sun Subscribers receive the latest breaking news and videos direct to their feed. SUBSCRIBE NOW and hit the bell to be the first in the know. http://www.thesun.co.uk Like The Sun on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesun/ Follow The Sun on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheSun Subscribe to The Sun on Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/discover/The_Sun/1633225139