Person Found Decapitated in France Terror Attack
One person was found decapitated and two others were injured after an apparent terrorist attack at an American-owned factory in France today, authorities said. The attack happened in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier in southeastern France.
French President Francois Hollande, speaking at a news conference today, said the attack was designed to cause an explosion.
“It is a terrorist attack, there is no doubt about that,” Hollande said from Brussels, where he is attending an EU summit.
Inscriptions were found on the decapitated body, Hollande said. The identity of the victim has not yet been released.
The attacker rammed a car into the gate of the gas factory and hit gas canisters that caused an explosion.
One suspect, identified as Yassine Salhi, was taken into custody, French Minister of Interior Bernard Cazeneuve said. The suspect has no criminal record but was the subject of a “Fiche S” designation – for “security of the state” – in 2006 because of suspected radicalization, Cazeneuve said. That status was not renewed in 2008.
Salhi is originally from Saint-Priest, Lyon, in eastern France, Cazeneuve said. He had no prior criminal record.
Authorities found multiple flags featuring writings at the site of the attack, and the flags are being analyzed, Cazeneuve said.
The investigation into the attack is ongoing. The factory is owned by Air Products & Chemicals, a Pennsylvania-based company. The company, which produces industrial gases and says it’s the world’s leading supplier of helium, released a statement after today’s attack.
“We can confirm that an incident occurred at our facility in L’Isle-d’Abeau, France this morning. Our priority at this stage is to take care of our employees, who have been evacuated from the site and all accounted for,” the company said. “Emergency services are on site and have contained the situation. The site is secure. Our crisis and emergency response teams have been activated and are working closely with all relevant authorities. Further information will be released as soon as it becomes available.”
At least 17 people have been killed in terror-related violence in France this year. In January, gunmen attacked the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo. The men suspected in that attack were later killed in raids at a Kosher supermarket and print shop.
Last September, in a 42 minute video address, ISIS spokesman Abu Muhammad al-Adnani urged Muslims around the globe to target – specifically – the “spiteful and filthy” French.
ABC News’ Rym Momtaz, Joseph Simonetti and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source: ABC News – Top Stories Person Found Decapitated in France Terror Attack