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Vehicle rams into French soldiers in Paris suburb, 6 injured | Vehicle rams into French soldiers in Paris suburb, 6 injured |
(35 minutes later) | |
At least six French soldiers were injured, three of them seriously, when they were hit by a vehicle in a Paris suburb, the French armed forces said. The suspect was arrested hours after the incident on a motorway in northern France. | |
WATCH LIVE: Manhunt underway in Paris suburb after vehicle ploughs into soldiers | WATCH LIVE: Manhunt underway in Paris suburb after vehicle ploughs into soldiers |
The incident took place in Levallois-Perret commune in northwestern suburb of Paris, some 6 km from the capital, local police prefecture said on Twitter. | The incident took place in Levallois-Perret commune in northwestern suburb of Paris, some 6 km from the capital, local police prefecture said on Twitter. |
“Police are everywhere, [they] set up a security perimeter and the neighbors are questioned,” one local told Le Parisien newspaper. | “Police are everywhere, [they] set up a security perimeter and the neighbors are questioned,” one local told Le Parisien newspaper. |
“Incident in Levallois Perret: police operation underway. [Police are] searching for a vehicle,” the statement said. | “Incident in Levallois Perret: police operation underway. [Police are] searching for a vehicle,” the statement said. |
The vehicle hit several soldiers from Operation Sentinelle, a French military operation deployed in the aftermath of the 2015 terrorist attacks. | |
“I find this shameful,” Levallois-Perret Mayor Patrick Balkany said, calling the incident an “intolerable aggression.” | “I find this shameful,” Levallois-Perret Mayor Patrick Balkany said, calling the incident an “intolerable aggression.” |
"Without any doubt, it was a deliberate act," Balkany later told BFMTV. | "Without any doubt, it was a deliberate act," Balkany later told BFMTV. |
According to BFMTV, the vehicle , identified as BMW, was driven by a man. Witness told Reuters that he saw a BMW vehicle, the model presumably used in the attack, with several bullet holes in it at the scene of the arrest. | |
The mayor of Paris has expressed her support for the six injured soldiers, wishing them a quick recovery. | The mayor of Paris has expressed her support for the six injured soldiers, wishing them a quick recovery. |
Minister for the Armed Forces Florence Parly condemned the incident as a “cowardly act,”saying that the investigation is yet to determine the motives of the attacker. | Minister for the Armed Forces Florence Parly condemned the incident as a “cowardly act,”saying that the investigation is yet to determine the motives of the attacker. |
The counter-terrorism unit of the Paris prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the incident, AFP reports, citing the prosecutor’s office. | The counter-terrorism unit of the Paris prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the incident, AFP reports, citing the prosecutor’s office. |
One woman said that she saw a large number of police and emergency services vehicles arriving at the scene. “We saw injured [soldiers] being transported to the ambulance,” she added. | One woman said that she saw a large number of police and emergency services vehicles arriving at the scene. “We saw injured [soldiers] being transported to the ambulance,” she added. |
“I heard a loud sound, shouts. Me and my wife rushed [outside] and then learned what happened,” one man who lives in the neighborhood told Ruptly. | “I heard a loud sound, shouts. Me and my wife rushed [outside] and then learned what happened,” one man who lives in the neighborhood told Ruptly. |
Later on Wednesday, police said that they intercepted a vehicle and fired shots to “neutralize” an individual inside the car. | |
Earlier reports in French media said that a man was arrested on a motorway in northern France in the manhunt for the driver, adding that the suspect was shot by police during his arrest. | |
French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe confirmed that the man was the one who attacked soldiers in Levallois. | |
“I want to congratulate [French] security forces who, within a very short time, were able to catch the suspect,” he said. | |
“A suspect who was driving the car involved in the attack has been arrested on the highway between Paris and Boulogne-sur-Mer [in Northern France],” Philippe told the French parliament. | |
READ MORE: Terrorist attack potential ‘very high’ as 271 ISIS jihadists return to France – interior minister | READ MORE: Terrorist attack potential ‘very high’ as 271 ISIS jihadists return to France – interior minister |
France declared a state of emergency following attacks in Paris in November 2015, in which over 130 people killed. It was re-extended on several occasions. The current iteration was extended earlier in July and will last until November 1. | France declared a state of emergency following attacks in Paris in November 2015, in which over 130 people killed. It was re-extended on several occasions. The current iteration was extended earlier in July and will last until November 1. |
In July, the French Senate greenlighted a controversial counter-terrorism bill which would make the measures introduced during the two-year state of emergency permanent. It is yet to be signed into law by President Emmanuel Macron, who initially introduced it to parliament. | In July, the French Senate greenlighted a controversial counter-terrorism bill which would make the measures introduced during the two-year state of emergency permanent. It is yet to be signed into law by President Emmanuel Macron, who initially introduced it to parliament. |