This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-33284937

The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 7 Version 8
France attack: Man decapitated in attack near Lyon France attack: Man decapitated in attack near Lyon
(about 1 hour later)
France has begun a terror investigation after a decapitated body and Islamist flags were found at the scene of an attack on a US-owned gas factory near the south-eastern city of Lyon. France has begun a terror investigation after a decapitated body was found at the scene of a suspected Islamist attack on a US-owned gas factory near the south-eastern city of Lyon.
One arrested man suspected to have rammed a car into the factory had been investigated over possible ties to Islamic radicals, officials said. One arrested man suspected to have rammed a car into the factory had been investigated over possible ties to Islamist radicals, officials said.
President Francois Hollande said the aim was to blow up the factory.President Francois Hollande said the aim was to blow up the factory.
Officials say the decapitated person was a local businessman.Officials say the decapitated person was a local businessman.
His head was found on a post at the gates to the Air Products gas factory in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier. His head was found on a post at the gates to the Air Products gas factory in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, some 40km (25 miles) from Lyon.
No further details have been released of the circumstances around his death. Mr Hollande said the decapitated body had "inscriptions" on it. The French interior minister said: "A flag with Arabic writing on it was found at the scene".
No further details have been released of the circumstances around the businessman's death.
Live updates: France beheading attackLive updates: France beheading attack
At a press conference, Mr Hollande confirmed that two attackers had targeted the chemicals factory at around 10:00 local time (08:00 GMT).At a press conference, Mr Hollande confirmed that two attackers had targeted the chemicals factory at around 10:00 local time (08:00 GMT).
He said a car made it through the factory gates before ploughing into gas canisters, sparking an explosion that injured two people.He said a car made it through the factory gates before ploughing into gas canisters, sparking an explosion that injured two people.
"We have no doubt that the attack was to blow up the building. It bears the hallmarks of a terrorist attack," he said."We have no doubt that the attack was to blow up the building. It bears the hallmarks of a terrorist attack," he said.
Referring to the terrorist attacks in and around Paris that killed 17 people in January, he said: "We all remember what happened before in our country. There is therefore a lot of emotion." Speaking from the scene, France's Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said a number of people were in custody over the attack, including a 35-year-old man named as Yacine Sali.
Mr Hollande left the EU summit in Brussels to return to France. Mr Sali, he said, had been "under investigation for radicalisation but this investigation was not renewed in 2008. He had no police record."
Speaking from the scene, France's Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said one arrested suspect had been under investigation between 2006 and 2008. The suspect's partner spoke to Europe 1 earlier on Friday and said he had left for his delivery job as normal and did not come home. She has since been taken into custody.
He said the suspect is believed to be a 35-year-old man named as Yacine Sali. Another suspect who is believed to have been driving back and forth past the factory before the attack has also been arrested, local media report.
"This person was under investigation for radicalisation but this investigation was not renewed in 2008. He had no police record," Mr Cazeneuve said. Air Products makes gases and chemicals for a wide range of industries, including technology, energy, healthcare, food. It is based in the US, but has more than 20,000 employees in 50 countries around the world.
According to France's Dauphine Libere newspaper, a second suspect arrested at his home in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier is believed to be a man who was seen driving back and forth past the factory before the attack. "We can confirm that an incident occurred at our facility in L'Isle-d'Abeau, France this morning," a company spokesperson said.
A spokesman for Air Products said: "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.""Our priority at this stage is to take care of our employees, who have been evacuated from the site and all accounted for."
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has ordered that security be stepped up at sensitive sites around Lyon.French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has ordered that security be stepped up at sensitive sites around Lyon.
Alain Juppe, the mayor of Bordeaux, took to Twitter to condemn the attack. Mr Hollande, who left the EU summit in Brussels early to return to France, promised "action, prevention and dissuasion" to stop any more terrorist attacks.
"The terrorist threat is at a maximum," he said, adding that France "must make every effort to protect its citizens". "We all remember what happened before in our country. There is therefore a lot of emotion," he said referring to the attacks on Charlie Hebdo magazine and a Jewish supermarket in and around Paris in January that killed 17 people.
Are you in Isere? Did you witness the factory attack? Please email your story to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in Isere? Did you witness the factory attack? Please email your story to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number.If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number.
You can message us on WhatsApp 07525 900971.You can message us on WhatsApp 07525 900971.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditions.Read the terms and conditions.