Prosecutor: Champs-Elysees attacker pledged allegiance to IS

Copied

PARIS (AP) — A French prosecutor says a man who was killed when he drove a car packed with arms and explosives into a police convoy had pledged allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State group.

Paris Prosecutor Francois Molins said Thursday the attacker had a huge cache of weapons both at home and in the vehicle used in Monday's rampage.

Molins says evidence from the investigation shows the suspect wanted to join IS forces in Syria and Iraq.

The driver in the latest attack on one of the French capital's busiest shopping and tourist districts set off a fiery blast when he drove his car into police patrolling the Champs-Elysee.

Witnesses said gendarmes jumped out of the vehicle, ran to the car, smashed its windows and pulled out the driver in an apparent attempt to save him.

Police officials earlier identified the suspect as 31-year-old Adam Djaziri from the Paris suburb of Argenteuil.