Suspected terrorist have attacked an American-owned gas company close to Lyon in southern France, killing one person and injuring many.
The murder is believed to have been accompanied by several explosions on the site when the terrorists ignited small ‘gas bombs’, causing injuries to dozens of factory workers. It is believed the attackers may have intended to blow up the entire factory site.
French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve said one of the attackers have been killed, an anti terrorist investigation is under way, he says. He names the arrested suspect as Yassine Salim. The other suspect was killed in the attack by a firefighter.
The attack took place at the headquarters of the American owned Air Products, in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, near the city of Lyon, in the south east of the country.
The company supplies gases, chemicals and equipment for products ranging from TVs and mobile phones to sports cars and running shoes.
Air Products was founded in 1940 and has grown to be 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 was created in 1990 and it employs 400 people in the country across a number of sites. It is the third largest producer of atmospheric gases in France with over 15% of national production.
Local media reported that a 30-year-old man ‘known to security services’ has already been arrested at the scene, telling police officers that he is a member of the Islamic State terror group. The second terrorist is believed to have gone on the run.
In his statement France President Francois Hollande, confirmed that the attack happened just before 10am local time when two suspects drove into the factory. He said they attacked the factory “using gas canisters”.