The International Press Institute (IPI) today welcomed French President François Hollande’s remarks condemning yesterday’s shooting at the Paris office of the newspaper Libération as an attack on freedom of the press.

News reports said that Hollande, in a televised statement yesterday from Jerusalem, directed Interior Minister Manuel Valls to use all means to find the gunman “who tried to kill and could still do so”.

The gunman entered the offices of Libération at about 10:15 a.m. and shot a 23-year-old photographer’s assistant in the chest and the abdomen before fleeing and firing shots at the headquarters of the Société Générale bank. Libération reported that the photographer’s assistant, whose name was not released, was in intensive care today after having undergone surgery.

Police said the gunman, who following the shootings took a motorist hostage and forced him to drive to the Champs-Élysées before fleeing on foot, appeared to be the same man who on Friday entered the offices of news channel BFMTV and threatened people with a gun. He emptied the chamber of his weapon before telling an editor: “Next time, I will not miss you.” However, the gunmen in yesterday’s attacks reportedly said nothing before opening fire.

News reports said that the 65-year-old motorist taken hostage told police that the gunman said that he had escaped from prison and that he was also armed with grenades.

The incidents set off a city-wide manhunt, which remained ongoing today, and police were reportedly stationed outside of news organisations. Authorities released surveillance camera footage of the suspected shooter and described him as a male of European origin, aged 35 to 45, with salt-and-pepper hair who is approximately 1.7 to 1.8 metres tall. They urged anyone with information on the suspect’s identity to contact police.

IPI Press Freedom Manager Barbara Trionfi said: “Our thoughts go out to the young man injured, and to his family and colleagues, and we wish him a full recovery. We also hope that the individual responsible is apprehended as soon as possible without further bloodshed.

“These incidents representing a shocking assault on freedom of expression in the heart of Europe and we are glad to see French authorities treating them with the gravity they deserve, particularly as they come just days before the world marks the International Day to End Impunity for crimes against journalists and free expression advocates on Nov. 23.”