Explosions, decapitation, IS flag at French factory in terror attack
At least one body found decapitated, two wounded, Islamist flag left behind at gas factory; man known to police reportedly arrested.
A gas factory near Grenoble, France was attacked on Friday, leaving at least one dead and several wounded. A body was found decapitated alongside a flag used by the Islamic State terror group. Local media said the attack was carried out by two men who drove into the building.
A suspect was arrested shortly after the incident and was revealed as Yacine Sali, a 35-year-old father of three, who was known to intelligence services for his connection to jihadist organizations. Le Dauphine Libere reported that a second man had been arrested at his home, and was thought to have been seen driving back and forth in front of the factory before the attack.
Three French officials say the decapitated victim was the suspect's employer. Sali's wife was also taken into custody by police.
Reports said the attackers burst multiple gas canisters in the factory, which belongs to a company called Air Products. According to the Telegraph, the company's persident is a Shia Iranian named Seifi Ghasemi.
The decapitated head was reportedly hanging from the railing around the factory next to signs with Arabic writing
.
French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said he was traveling to the scene. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls quickly ordered tightened security measures for "sensitive" sites.
French President Francois Hollande, in Brussels for an EU conference, was expected to return to France within hours. Speaking prior to his departure, he said it was clear it was a terror attack. French authorities have opened a terrorism investigation. According to Le Daufine Libere, Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced a defense council meeting to occur at 3 PM.
In Israel, Immigration and Absorption Ze'ev Elkin urged the Jews of France to "come home" after the attack.
Prime Minister David Cameron spoke to President Francois Hollande on Friday to convey his sympathies over what a British government source said appeared to be an appalling incident at a gas factory in France.
"The Prime Minister has just spoken to President Hollande to express his sympathies for what looks like an appalling incident there," the source said.
"It clearly looks an extremely concerning situation and our thoughts are with all those affected by it."
France has faced numerous terror attacks in recent months. In January, an attack on satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo killed 12.
The following day a policewoman was shot dead, and a day after that a kosher supermarket in Paris was attacked, leaving four dead.
