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Air Products: the US firm targeted by suspected Islamists in France Air Products: the US firm targeted by suspected Islamists in France
(35 minutes later)
The factory targeted by a suspected Islamist attack in south-east France is owned by Air Products, a US company headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The factory targeted in a suspected Islamist attack in south-east France is owned by Air Products, a US company based in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
The company supplies gases, chemicals and equipment for products ranging from TVs and mobile phones to sports cars and running shoes.The company supplies gases, chemicals and equipment for products ranging from TVs and mobile phones to sports cars and running shoes.
It was unclear on Friday whether the company was targeted because it was American.It was unclear on Friday whether the company was targeted because it was American.
In a statement, it said: “Our priority at this stage is to take care of our employees, who have been evacuated from the site and all accounted for.In a statement, it said: “Our priority at this stage is to take care of our employees, who have been evacuated from the site and all accounted for.
“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.”“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.”
Air Products was founded in 1940 and is now the 276th largest company in the US with $10.4bn of global sales last year. It employs more than 20,000 people in 50 countries.Air Products was founded in 1940 and is now the 276th largest company in the US with $10.4bn of global sales last year. It employs more than 20,000 people in 50 countries.
Its French subsidiary, created in 1990, employs 400 people across a number of sites. It is the third largest producer of atmospheric gases in France, with more than 15% of national production. Its French subsidiary, created in 1990, employs 400 people across a number of sites. It is the third largest producer of atmospheric gases in France, with more than 15% of the market.
The chair and chief executive of Air Products is Seifi Ghasemi, an Iranian who emigrated to the US in the 1960s and holds a masters degree from Stanford University. The company’s chair and chief executive is Seifi Ghasemi, an Iranian who emigrated to the US in the 1960s and holds a masters degree from Stanford University.