France steps up patrols after spate of lone-wolf attacks

French security forces stepped up security at public places for the Christmas holiday season on Tuesday after three separate acts of violence in three days left about 30 wounded and reignited fears of attacks by Islamist radicals.

"What we are seeing with events in Dijon and Nantes is that they are creating copy-cat reactions," Prime Minister Manuel Valls said after ordering the deployment of 200 to 300 extra soldiers for patrols in zones such as Paris's Champs-Elysees avenue and main shopping districts. Some 780 soldiers have already been deployed to security patrols.