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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2015/jun/26/suspected-terror-attack-at-french-factory-live-updates
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| France attack: terror inquiry launched and suspect arrested – as it happened | France attack: terror inquiry launched and suspect arrested – as it happened |
| (14 days later) | |
| 2.50pm BST | 2.50pm BST |
| 14:50 | 14:50 |
| As attention focuses to events in Tunisia and Kuwait, we are going to bring this blog to close for now. You can follow the latest here. | As attention focuses to events in Tunisia and Kuwait, we are going to bring this blog to close for now. You can follow the latest here. |
| 2.46pm BST | 2.46pm BST |
| 14:46 | 14:46 |
| A French security official has confirmed to AP, that the man whose severed head was found hanging at the gate of the factory has been identified as a local businessman. The security official, who was not authorized to speak to the media and requested anonymity, said the victim was the head of a local transportation company and was believed to have been killed before the explosion. His name was not released. Authorities had said his body was found near the site of the attack. | A French security official has confirmed to AP, that the man whose severed head was found hanging at the gate of the factory has been identified as a local businessman. The security official, who was not authorized to speak to the media and requested anonymity, said the victim was the head of a local transportation company and was believed to have been killed before the explosion. His name was not released. Authorities had said his body was found near the site of the attack. |
| 2.42pm BST | 2.42pm BST |
| 14:42 | 14:42 |
| Yassin Sahli’s wife has also been arrested, according to AFP citing a legal source. | Yassin Sahli’s wife has also been arrested, according to AFP citing a legal source. |
| #BREAKING Wife of France gas factory attack suspect held: legal source | #BREAKING Wife of France gas factory attack suspect held: legal source |
| 2.37pm BST | 2.37pm BST |
| 14:37 | 14:37 |
| Vikram Dodd | Vikram Dodd |
| Scotland Yard said it was “monitoring the situation” after the attacks in Tunisia and France, writes Vikram Dodd. | Scotland Yard said it was “monitoring the situation” after the attacks in Tunisia and France, writes Vikram Dodd. |
| It said it constantly reviews security and urged the public to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious. It said the threat level to the UK from international terrorism remained “severe” , which means an attack remains highly likely. | It said it constantly reviews security and urged the public to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious. It said the threat level to the UK from international terrorism remained “severe” , which means an attack remains highly likely. |
| 2.30pm BST | 2.30pm BST |
| 14:30 | 14:30 |
| Our error about the other suspects being killed was based on mistranslation, according to reader Christian Müller. | Our error about the other suspects being killed was based on mistranslation, according to reader Christian Müller. |
| The verb the interior minister used was “neutraliser”, and referred to the fireman apprehending the (so far) only suspect, who was then arrested. | The verb the interior minister used was “neutraliser”, and referred to the fireman apprehending the (so far) only suspect, who was then arrested. |
| Apologies for the confusion. | Apologies for the confusion. |
| 2.18pm BST | 2.18pm BST |
| 14:18 | 14:18 |
| Correction | Correction |
| There is now uncertainty about whether one of the attackers was killed in the incident. | There is now uncertainty about whether one of the attackers was killed in the incident. |
| Our earlier report that one of the suspects was killed was based on a press conference given by France’s interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve. | Our earlier report that one of the suspects was killed was based on a press conference given by France’s interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve. |
| According to a translation from BBC News Cazeneuve said: “The alleged author of this crime had been killed after he had committed his crime. He had been killed by one person from security who had the courage and cold blood to confront this individual. This firefighter I would like to express to him my thanks for the speed of their intervention.” | According to a translation from BBC News Cazeneuve said: “The alleged author of this crime had been killed after he had committed his crime. He had been killed by one person from security who had the courage and cold blood to confront this individual. This firefighter I would like to express to him my thanks for the speed of their intervention.” |
| We now think this may have been a mistranslation. AFP said Cazeneuve was referring to a firefighter who overpowered and “neutralised” Salhi, the arrested suspect. | We now think this may have been a mistranslation. AFP said Cazeneuve was referring to a firefighter who overpowered and “neutralised” Salhi, the arrested suspect. |
| “I would like to offer my deepest thanks to the firefighter and his colleagues who came to the scene for their promptness and effectiveness,” AFP quoted him saying. | “I would like to offer my deepest thanks to the firefighter and his colleagues who came to the scene for their promptness and effectiveness,” AFP quoted him saying. |
| There is also uncertainty about the man who was decapitated, as Reuters points out. | There is also uncertainty about the man who was decapitated, as Reuters points out. |
| It was not known whether the victim, so far the only known fatality in the incident that also injured two people, was decapitated before or after the car smashed into the building, or whether the victim had been on site at the time of the attack, or killed elsewhere. | It was not known whether the victim, so far the only known fatality in the incident that also injured two people, was decapitated before or after the car smashed into the building, or whether the victim had been on site at the time of the attack, or killed elsewhere. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.24pm BST | at 2.24pm BST |
| 2.05pm BST | 2.05pm BST |
| 14:05 | 14:05 |
| France’s prime minister, Manuel Valls, said today’s attack was act of “Islamist terrorism,” announcing he was cutting short a visit to South America to deal with the crisis, AFP reports. | France’s prime minister, Manuel Valls, said today’s attack was act of “Islamist terrorism,” announcing he was cutting short a visit to South America to deal with the crisis, AFP reports. |
| “Islamist terrorism has hit France again,” Manuel Valls told a press conference in Colombia’s capital Bogota, adding that he would take part by telephone in an emergency meeting called by President Francois Hollande, then rush back to France. | “Islamist terrorism has hit France again,” Manuel Valls told a press conference in Colombia’s capital Bogota, adding that he would take part by telephone in an emergency meeting called by President Francois Hollande, then rush back to France. |
| Valls described the assault as appalling and said it “shows that the jihadist threat remains very high.” | Valls described the assault as appalling and said it “shows that the jihadist threat remains very high.” |
| 1.58pm BST | 1.58pm BST |
| 13:58 | 13:58 |
| David Cameron has condemned today’s attack and the killing of at least 27 people in Tunisia. | David Cameron has condemned today’s attack and the killing of at least 27 people in Tunisia. |
| He said the attacks were carried out in the name of a “twisted and perverted ideology that we have to confront with everything that we have”. He pointed out that Islam was a religion of peace. | He said the attacks were carried out in the name of a “twisted and perverted ideology that we have to confront with everything that we have”. He pointed out that Islam was a religion of peace. |
| Speaking at the EU summit in Brussels he added: “We must stop the poisoning of these young minds in our country and other European countries and around the world.” | Speaking at the EU summit in Brussels he added: “We must stop the poisoning of these young minds in our country and other European countries and around the world.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.10pm BST | at 2.10pm BST |
| 1.53pm BST | 1.53pm BST |
| 13:53 | 13:53 |
| A few more details have emerged about the arrested suspect, according to Reuters who spells his name as Yassin Sahli. | A few more details have emerged about the arrested suspect, according to Reuters who spells his name as Yassin Sahli. |
| French media said Sahli was a 35-year-old professional driver who lived in the Lyon suburb. There was no official confirmation of that, Reuters pointed out. | French media said Sahli was a 35-year-old professional driver who lived in the Lyon suburb. There was no official confirmation of that, Reuters pointed out. |
| 1.27pm BST | 1.27pm BST |
| 13:27 | 13:27 |
| According, again, to the Dauphiné Libéré newspaper, the decapitated victim has been identified as the manager of a transport company based in Chassieu, about 20 miles from the attack. He was attacked at the Air Products factory after coming for a delivery, the paper said, not naming the victim. | According, again, to the Dauphiné Libéré newspaper, the decapitated victim has been identified as the manager of a transport company based in Chassieu, about 20 miles from the attack. He was attacked at the Air Products factory after coming for a delivery, the paper said, not naming the victim. |
| 1.17pm BST | 1.17pm BST |
| 13:17 | 13:17 |
| In 2012 a man named Yassine Salhi, the believed identity of the attacker in custody, was reported to have hurled anti-semitic abuse at a Jewish teenager on a train travelling from Toulouse to Lyon. According to the report on the Jewish Telegraphic Agency website, Salhi and another man, both of north African descent, also exchanged blows with the teenager. The JTA report said that the case was being investigated by French prosecutors. It is unclear if it ever went to court. | In 2012 a man named Yassine Salhi, the believed identity of the attacker in custody, was reported to have hurled anti-semitic abuse at a Jewish teenager on a train travelling from Toulouse to Lyon. According to the report on the Jewish Telegraphic Agency website, Salhi and another man, both of north African descent, also exchanged blows with the teenager. The JTA report said that the case was being investigated by French prosecutors. It is unclear if it ever went to court. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.00pm BST | at 2.00pm BST |
| 1.12pm BST | 1.12pm BST |
| 13:12 | 13:12 |
| Here’s a summary of what we know so far: | Here’s a summary of what we know so far: |
| This post has been changed after we incorrectly stated that one of the suspects was killed in the incident. | This post has been changed after we incorrectly stated that one of the suspects was killed in the incident. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.31pm BST | at 2.31pm BST |
| 12.55pm BST | 12.55pm BST |
| 12:55 | 12:55 |
| Peter Walker | Peter Walker |
| According to the Dauphiné Libéré newspaper a second suspect has been arrested, at his home in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier. | According to the Dauphiné Libéré newspaper a second suspect has been arrested, at his home in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier. |
| He is believed to be a man seen driving around near the factory in a Ford car before the attack, a suspected reconnaissance attempt, the paper said. | He is believed to be a man seen driving around near the factory in a Ford car before the attack, a suspected reconnaissance attempt, the paper said. |
| 12.50pm BST | 12.50pm BST |
| 12:50 | 12:50 |
| The arrested suspect Yacinne Sali, is a 35-year-old, who was in “in contact with a salafist movement”, Cazeneuve’s statement said. | The arrested suspect Yacinne Sali, is a 35-year-old, who was in “in contact with a salafist movement”, Cazeneuve’s statement said. |
| He was described as living in the Lyon area at Saint-Priest. “He had been noted for his radicalisation, but was not known to have any links to terrorist figures,” Cazeneuve added. | He was described as living in the Lyon area at Saint-Priest. “He had been noted for his radicalisation, but was not known to have any links to terrorist figures,” Cazeneuve added. |
| 12.48pm BST | 12.48pm BST |
| 12:48 | 12:48 |
| Here’s the full statement from Air Products the owners of the factory that was attacked: | Here’s the full statement from Air Products the owners of the factory that was attacked: |
| We can confirm that an incident occurred at our facility in L’Isle-d’Abeau, France this morning. | 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. |
| 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. |
| Further information will be released as soon as it becomes available. | Further information will be released as soon as it becomes available. |
| 12.46pm BST | 12.46pm BST |
| 12:46 | 12:46 |
| Angelique Chrisafis | Angelique Chrisafis |
| Angelique Chrisafis gauges the immediate political reaction in Paris. | Angelique Chrisafis gauges the immediate political reaction in Paris. |
| The French political class, still reeling from the bloody terrorist attacks on the magazine Charlie Hebdo and a Paris Kosher supermarket nearly six months ago, has for months been engaged in heated debate on surveillance powers and national security. | The French political class, still reeling from the bloody terrorist attacks on the magazine Charlie Hebdo and a Paris Kosher supermarket nearly six months ago, has for months been engaged in heated debate on surveillance powers and national security. |
| Both the right and left had been stressing the ongoing terrorist threat and the country’s security services had been on high-alert. Today’s attack on the factory in Isère brought immediate political reaction, with all parties stressing France should not give in to fear. | Both the right and left had been stressing the ongoing terrorist threat and the country’s security services had been on high-alert. Today’s attack on the factory in Isère brought immediate political reaction, with all parties stressing France should not give in to fear. |
| On the right, Alain Juppé, a former prime minister from Nicolas Sarkozy’s right-wing Les Républicains, who is challenging Sarkozy to be 2017 presidential candidate, tweeted “The terrorist threat is at maximum. The Isere attacks is alas a reminder. The state must do everything to protect its citizens.” | On the right, Alain Juppé, a former prime minister from Nicolas Sarkozy’s right-wing Les Républicains, who is challenging Sarkozy to be 2017 presidential candidate, tweeted “The terrorist threat is at maximum. The Isere attacks is alas a reminder. The state must do everything to protect its citizens.” |
| La menace terroriste est maximum. L'attentat en Isère nous le rappelle hélas! L'Etat doit tout mettre en œuvre pour protéger ses citoyens. | La menace terroriste est maximum. L'attentat en Isère nous le rappelle hélas! L'Etat doit tout mettre en œuvre pour protéger ses citoyens. |
| Sarkozy later issued a statement saying “The Republic will never give in to terrorist barbarism.” | Sarkozy later issued a statement saying “The Republic will never give in to terrorist barbarism.” |
| The Socialist party leader Jean-Christophe Cambadélis tweeted his “great emotion” after the attack and the way in which it happened. He said “Let’s stay united”, “We must not play on fears.” | The Socialist party leader Jean-Christophe Cambadélis tweeted his “great emotion” after the attack and the way in which it happened. He said “Let’s stay united”, “We must not play on fears.” |
| Grande émotion devant cet attentat et son mode opératoire. Restons unis. Pas d'amalgames. Ne jouons pas sur les peurs. #Isère | Grande émotion devant cet attentat et son mode opératoire. Restons unis. Pas d'amalgames. Ne jouons pas sur les peurs. #Isère |
| The far-right Front National leader Marine Le Pen immediately demanded “strong measures” to “combat islamism”. | The far-right Front National leader Marine Le Pen immediately demanded “strong measures” to “combat islamism”. |