Decapitated Head Left on Fence in French 'Terror Attack'

1 suspect dead, 2 in custody: French officials
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 26, 2015 6:23 AM CDT
Updated Jun 26, 2015 7:52 AM CDT
Decapitated Head Found in 'Terror Attack' at French Factory
In this screen grab taken from video provided by I Tele, emergency services at the scene outside a factory where a man was allegedly beheaded, in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, France, Friday, June 26, 2015.   (I Tele via AP)

At least one person is dead and two wounded after suspected Islamist militants attacked a US-owned gas factory in France this morning, authorities say. Two men reportedly crashed a car through the entrance to Air Products' premises in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier and hit gas containers that began exploding, reports Reuters and the AP. One attacker also set off explosive devices inside the factory, the AFP reports, per the Local. Newspaper Le Dauphine reports a man's decapitated head was found stuck on a fence near the entrance of the site. President Francois Hollande confirmed that "inscriptions [were] written" on the body; other reports describe it as Arabic writing found on the head. A flag with Islamist descriptions was reportedly found near the body.

Police say one of the alleged attackers, identified by the Guardian as Yassine Sali (also given as Salhi), 35, is in custody. France's interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve says he was under investigation for radicalization from 2006 to 2008 over possible ties to a Salifist group. The second suspect was killed by a firefighter "who had a lot of courage and kept his cool," Cazeneuve says. Le Dauphine reports a third man, allegedly seen driving back and forth in front of the factory before the attack, has been arrested at his home. France's anti-terror prosecutor says simply that the attack was led by "a terrorist group" and an investigation is now underway. The Guardian has more on Pennsylvania-based Air Products, which has 20,000 employees in 50 countries and provides gases and chemicals that factor into products that run the gamut from TVs to sneakers. (More France stories.)

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