Paris is dealing with yet another terrorist attack. This time it was specifically directed at the police themselves.

A gunman opened fire on French police Thursday on Paris’s best-known boulevard, killing one officer and wounding two others before being fatally shot himself in an incident that raised the specter of renewed terrorism just three days before voters go to the polls to elect a new president.

The Washington Post and others quickly tied this to the election that is three days away. And sort-of kind-of not saying that the guy was maybe sort-of not a terrorist even as they note that ISIS immediately claimed responsibility.

The terrorist organization said the attack was carried out by a Belgian national it identified only as Abu Yusuf al-Baljiki, a pseudonym.

There was no immediate confirmation that the Islamic State was behind the shooting. French officials declined to attach a motive to the attack, although they said police were deliberately targeted and that they were opening a terrorism investigation.

Now, why would this attack, that took place on the beautiful Champs-Elysees, cause problems for the upcoming election?

Why does anyone think this attack that killed one policeman and injured two others is directed in any way, shape, or form towards those who are running and those who will vote in the election?

Let’s take a gander at the three major candidate’s reactions.

• The popular independent candidate, Emmanuel Macron, who is leading by a slim margin, called for France to not yield to fear and to not engage in fear mongering as that is exactly what the terrorists want.
• Frances Fillon went the opposite direction. He called for the elections to be suspended.
• Marine Le Pen renewed her calls for France to step up and engage in intensifying France’s fight against “Islamist terrorism.”

Quite interesting, isn’t it? Change those names to key politicians here in the U.S. and you’ll find the same thing. So, what did President Trump have to say about the attacks?

And of course, the Associated Press, who is definitively NOT a fan of the President, posted this in response.

Trump calls Paris shooting "terrorist attack," Paris police have not yet announced motive. https://t.co/G1VksRptk6

— The Associated Press (@AP) April 20, 2017

Here’s the thing. By the time President Trump issued his response to the attack the following information was well-known about the terrorist. h/t Powerline Blog via the Daily Mail.

1. The terrorist’s real name is Karim Cheurif, but he goes by the alias mentioned above.
2. The terrorist was given a 20 year jail sentence in 2001 for trying to kill the police, but was released early.
3. The terrorist was actually born in France, has been flagged as an extremist, and he was still let out of jail.
4. The terrorist had actually been arrested in February for trying to purchase weapons to attack the police with.
5. The police believe he became MORE radicalized while in prison. Ya think?

Needless to say, the U.S. media still wants to make sure we don’t connect the dots. Why else would the AP step on a rake?

We're still playing this game? Really?#ParisAttack https://t.co/ecZFPcmEIL

— Chris Moore (@Moorestweet) April 20, 2017

Meanwhile, as the AP and others work to extricate themselves from their collisions with reality rakes, we also find out that three family members of the terrorist have been arrested and the Belgian authorities have alerted the French to the identity of a second suspect.

Will this attack sway the election?

#ParisAttack may sway French election

America elected @realDonaldTrump to get a CinC who was strong against terror
French likely to as well pic.twitter.com/j5rOpbREDr

— Jim Hanson (@Uncle_Jimbo) April 21, 2017

There have been far too many terrorist attacks in just the last few years.

Terror in #France
–Since the attack on Charlie Hebdo in Jan 2015:
∙11 attacks
∙230+ killed
∙800+ wounded#Paris https://t.co/mxem6fnXww

— Fox News Research (@FoxNewsResearch) April 20, 2017

If enough people in France are sick and tired of the appeasement and the inaction, this latest that was specifically directed at the police may very well be the last straw. This election may be key to the future of  France and the future of the world’s fight against terrorism.