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'Isis' beheading: Man decapitated in France 'by attacker who tried to blow up factory' 'Isis' beheading: Man decapitated in France 'by attacker who tried to blow up factory'
(35 minutes later)
A man has reportedly been decapitated by a suspected Isis supporter who tried to blow up a factory in France. France is in shock today after another alleged terrorist attack where a man was decapitated by a suspected Isis supporter who tried to blow up a factory.
The murdered man's head was found attached to a wire mesh fence surrounded by two black flags linked to the terrorist group near the entrance to the Air Products factory in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, police said. The murdered man's head was found attached to a wire mesh fence surrounded by two Islamist flags near the entrance to the Air Products factory in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, police said.
According to Le Parisien newspaper, the man's face was covered in Arabic writing and there was speculation that he may have been murdered elsewhere and the body then taken to Air Products for the gruesome display. Forensic investigators and gendarmes next to the fence where the head was found in Saint-Quentin-FallavierAccording to Le Parisien newspaper, the man's face was covered in Arabic writing and there was speculation that he may have been murdered elsewhere and the body then taken to Air Products for the gruesome display. Forensic investigators and gendarmes next to the fence where the head was found in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier
A man named as Yassin Salhi, aged 35 and from Saint-Priest, near Lyon, was detained by a firefighter at the scene and has been arrested. A man named as Yassin Salhi, aged 35 and from Saint-Priest in Lyon, was detained by firefighters at the scene and has been arrested.
Authorities said he had previously been under security service surveillance after fears he had been radicalised and had links to extremists. Sources told the AFP news agency that his victim was Salhi's own manager at a delivery firm that did work for Air Products.
Europe 1 radio carried a telephone  interview with a woman which it identified as the wife of the suspect. Authorities said the suspect had previously been under security service surveillance after fears he had been radicalised and had links to extremists.
She said that her husband had left for his delivery job this morning and she had heard nothing from him since. Europe 1 radio carried a telephone  interview with a woman which it identified as Salhi's wife.
“What’s happening here? My heart is going to break. It can’t be him,” she added. “We are normal family with chidren We live normally.” Journalists and police at the shut-off crime scene in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier She said that her husband had left for his delivery job this morning and she had heard nothing from him since. Special forces of France's Research and Intervention Brigades (BRI) escort an unidentified woman and a child from Salhi's home
Asked if he husband was religious, she said: “Yes, we are muslims. But in a normal way. We respect Ramadan. No more than that.” “What’s happening here? My heart is going to break. It can’t be him,” she added. “We are normal family with children We live normally.”
It was later reported that Mr Salhi’s wife and three children had been taken into custody for questioning. Asked if her husband was religious, she said: “Yes, we are muslims. But in a normal way. We respect Ramadan. No more than that.”
A "loud explosion" was heard at Air Products, a gas products firm, at 9.50am local time (8.50 BST) Le Dauphine Libre reported. It was later reported that Mr Salhi’s wife and another person from the home where they lived with their three children had been taken into custody for questioning.
A vehicle had driven into the factory compound and driven around at speed before ramming a pile of gas cylinders, causing a small explosion. A timeline pieced together by French media after watching surveillance footage suggested Salhi arrived at Air Products in a van and put the head on the fence with the flags.
The decapitated victim was reportedly the manager of a transport company in the Lyon area, which was subcontracted by Air Products. He then drove into the factory and crashed into a pile of gas cannisters, causing an explosion that was heard at 9.50am local time (8.50 BST).
Investigators suspect that the attacker, or attackers, may have hijacked his vehicle and murdered him, knowing that his truck was authorised to enter the factory. The attacker then reportedly ran into Air Products in an attempt to cause more explosions with the gas and chemicals stored there but in that time, firefighters arrived to tackle the gas blaze.
They arrived to hear Salhi shouting 'Allahu Akbar!' (God is great) and managed to surround him and keep him there until police arrived to arrest him.
The decapitated victim, in his 50s, was reportedly the manager of a transport company in the Lyon area, which was subcontracted by Air Products.
There is continued confusion over why initial reports said there were two attackers in the car, but only one man has been arrested.There is continued confusion over why initial reports said there were two attackers in the car, but only one man has been arrested.
French journalists have speculated that the second suspect could be among injured people and may be detained after treatment. French security and emergency services gather at the entrance of the Air Products company in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, near Lyon French journalists have speculated that the second suspect could be among injured people and may be detained after treatment. Police investigators carry banners with illegible Arabic writing on them
Speaking from Brussels before returning to France, President Francois Hollande said one person had been killed and two injured in what bore all the "hallmarks of a terrorist attack".Speaking from Brussels before returning to France, President Francois Hollande said one person had been killed and two injured in what bore all the "hallmarks of a terrorist attack".
He said there was "no doubt" the terrorists, one man and an accomplice, meant to cause an explosion at the factory using gas cannisters.He said there was "no doubt" the terrorists, one man and an accomplice, meant to cause an explosion at the factory using gas cannisters.
"There is emotion but emotion cannot be the only response. There must also be action, prevention, dissuasion," the President added."There is emotion but emotion cannot be the only response. There must also be action, prevention, dissuasion," the President added.
"It is vital to further our values, to never to give in and never, whatever the circumstances, create unnecessary division or intolerable suspicion."It is vital to further our values, to never to give in and never, whatever the circumstances, create unnecessary division or intolerable suspicion.
"We will ensure that the French people are protected and eradicate the groups or individuals responsible for these acts.""We will ensure that the French people are protected and eradicate the groups or individuals responsible for these acts."
The French interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, is in Isère and spoke this afternoon, where he identified the suspect and said several other arrests have been made in relation to the investigation.The French interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, is in Isère and spoke this afternoon, where he identified the suspect and said several other arrests have been made in relation to the investigation.
He said Salhi did not have a criminal record but had links to Salafists and was known to security forces since 2006, when they believed he had been radicalised. They stopped surveillance two years later.He said Salhi did not have a criminal record but had links to Salafists and was known to security forces since 2006, when they believed he had been radicalised. They stopped surveillance two years later.
Speaking from Brussels, where he is attending EU talks, David Cameron said terrorism is a "threat that faces all of us" and that attacks like those today in France, Kuwait and Tunisia "can happen anywhere".Speaking from Brussels, where he is attending EU talks, David Cameron said terrorism is a "threat that faces all of us" and that attacks like those today in France, Kuwait and Tunisia "can happen anywhere".
"(We must) deal with the threat at source, whether that is Isil (Isis) in Syria and Iraq or other extremist groups around the world," the Prime Minister added."(We must) deal with the threat at source, whether that is Isil (Isis) in Syria and Iraq or other extremist groups around the world," the Prime Minister added.
"Perhaps more important than anything is this poisonous, radical narrative that is turning so many young minds. We have to combat it with everything that we have.""Perhaps more important than anything is this poisonous, radical narrative that is turning so many young minds. We have to combat it with everything that we have."
He announced an an emergency Cobra meeting with ministers later today on counter-terrorism and intelligence sharing.He announced an an emergency Cobra meeting with ministers later today on counter-terrorism and intelligence sharing.
Air Products is headquartered in the US but is an international corporation with facilities in several countries, including the UK, mostly selling gases and chemicals for industrial use.Air Products is headquartered in the US but is an international corporation with facilities in several countries, including the UK, mostly selling gases and chemicals for industrial use.
A spokesperson did not confirm whether its staff were among the two people reported injured and one dead but said the site had been evacuated.A spokesperson did not confirm whether its staff were among the two people reported injured and one dead but said the site had been evacuated.
He added: "Our crisis and emergency response teams have been activated and are working closely with all relevant authorities."He added: "Our crisis and emergency response teams have been activated and are working closely with all relevant authorities."
The vehicle used by the attacker belonged to a sub-contracting company which had a right to enter the site, according to Isere's Prefect, the senior national government administrator.The vehicle used by the attacker belonged to a sub-contracting company which had a right to enter the site, according to Isere's Prefect, the senior national government administrator.
Jean-Paul Bonnetain said investigators were now looking at the possibility that the terrorists had first attacked Air Products or one of its employees and hijacked the vehicle.Jean-Paul Bonnetain said investigators were now looking at the possibility that the terrorists had first attacked Air Products or one of its employees and hijacked the vehicle.
France has been in a state of high alert since the attacks on the Charlie Hebdo offices and a Kosher supermarket in Paris.France has been in a state of high alert since the attacks on the Charlie Hebdo offices and a Kosher supermarket in Paris.