Gunman opens fire at French newspaper office, seriously wounding employee before fleeing

PARIS – A gunman has opened fire in the lobby of a French newspaper office in Paris, gravely wounding a photographer’s assistant before fleeing.

The daily newspaper Liberation says the 27-year-old victim is in serious condition. Fabrice Rousselot, editor of Liberation, says witnesses reported the gunman said nothing during the brief time he was in the lobby Monday morning.

Yoann Maras of the police union Alliance says the gunman fired a pump-action rifle and wounded the victim in the chest and arm.

BFM-TV says authorities are comparing Monday’s surveillance footage with video taken Friday, when an armed man threatened journalists at its offices before fleeing.