At least one person was killed and four more were injured Saturday in a knife attack in central Paris.
The extremist group Islamic State said through its news agency that it was responsible for the attack, calling the assailant a “soldier” for its cause.
The identity of the attacker has not been released. City prosecutor Francois Molins told reporters that the man had shouted the Arabic phrase “Allahu Akbar,” meaning “God is great,” during the attack.
Molins said police would launch an anti-terrorism investigation of the attack.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Twitter that France “will not yield an inch to the enemies of freedom.”
Paris police tweeted that the attack took place in the 2nd arrondissement, or district, of the French capital, which is often crowded with people headed to the city’s famed opera house and local restaurants.
Police said the attacker appeared to target five people. He was thought to have killed one and seriously injured two others. The other two of the five suffered only minor injuries.
The attacker also died at the scene, “neutralized” by police, Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said. Collomb praised the officers for taking action.
Paris has been on high alert for terror attacks, as a series of attacks have occurred in the nation over the past three years. (voanews)
