Anti-terror unit probe into Paris stabbing
Source: AFP |
May 27, 2013, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A FRENCH anti-terror unit is to investigate the stabbing of a soldier in Paris in an attack that echoed the grisly killing of another soldier in London, where British police were yesterday holding three new suspects.
French soldier Cedric Cordier is in hospital in a stable condition after the Saturday stabbing in a busy underground shopping and transport hub where he had been on patrol with two colleagues.
French President Francois Hollande said the stabbing could not be linked to the London murder "at this stage," although his interior minister, Manuel Valls, said the "sudden violence of the attack" was similar.
Hollande said French authorities were still piecing together information on the Paris stabber, who staged an equally public attack but then melted into the crowd without a word.
"We still do not know the exact circumstances of the attack or the identity of the attacker, but we are looking at all options," Hollande told reporters who were accompanying him on a trip to Ethiopia.
Hollande cautioned against drawing a link to the London killing, but Valls said: "There are elements, the sudden violence of the attack, that could lead one to think there could be a comparison with what happened in London."
French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Cordier had been targeted because he was a soldier and said he was working with Valls to crack down on "terrorism." "We are pursuing a merciless fight against terrorism and against any act that threatens our security," he told reporters after visiting the wounded man in hospital.
The local prosecutors office said an anti-terror unit would handle the investigation into the stabbing, which was captured by surveillance cameras.
The attacker, described by police as bearded and around 1.9 meters tall, approached the 23-year-old soldier, stabbed him and then disappeared into the crowd.
Cordier, who was armed and in uniform, was patrolling in Paris's La Defense business district as part of France's Vigipirate anti-terrorist surveillance scheme, which deploys troops at high-profile tourist, business and transport sites. Officials said his throat wound was not life-threatening.
French soldier Cedric Cordier is in hospital in a stable condition after the Saturday stabbing in a busy underground shopping and transport hub where he had been on patrol with two colleagues.
French President Francois Hollande said the stabbing could not be linked to the London murder "at this stage," although his interior minister, Manuel Valls, said the "sudden violence of the attack" was similar.
Hollande said French authorities were still piecing together information on the Paris stabber, who staged an equally public attack but then melted into the crowd without a word.
"We still do not know the exact circumstances of the attack or the identity of the attacker, but we are looking at all options," Hollande told reporters who were accompanying him on a trip to Ethiopia.
Hollande cautioned against drawing a link to the London killing, but Valls said: "There are elements, the sudden violence of the attack, that could lead one to think there could be a comparison with what happened in London."
French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Cordier had been targeted because he was a soldier and said he was working with Valls to crack down on "terrorism." "We are pursuing a merciless fight against terrorism and against any act that threatens our security," he told reporters after visiting the wounded man in hospital.
The local prosecutors office said an anti-terror unit would handle the investigation into the stabbing, which was captured by surveillance cameras.
The attacker, described by police as bearded and around 1.9 meters tall, approached the 23-year-old soldier, stabbed him and then disappeared into the crowd.
Cordier, who was armed and in uniform, was patrolling in Paris's La Defense business district as part of France's Vigipirate anti-terrorist surveillance scheme, which deploys troops at high-profile tourist, business and transport sites. Officials said his throat wound was not life-threatening.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
