PARIS - The third French soldier was dead after two others were killed Thursday by an unidentified gunman near a military base in the southwestern city of Montauban.

The third soldier was shot in the head and just died of grave wound.

The three soldiers were attacked when withdrawing money in front of an ATM by a gunman who emerged on a scooter and managed to escape. "The attacker on a black scooter is actively sought," the BFMTV said.

The shooting occurred in the street not far from the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment (RGP), local media LC1/TF1 confirmed in the report.

French Defense Minister Gerard Longuet expressed strong emotion over the death of the three soldiers.

"His (Longuet's) first thoughts are with the families of the deceased, and the unit of the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment (RGP) to which the victims belonged," the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

"The Defence Minister has confidence in justice, under the authority of the prosecutor, so that all light be shed as soon as possible on this criminal act," the statement added.