Man drives car at troops protecting mosque in southern France: mayor
France has been on high alert since Islamic State militants killed 130 people in Paris on November 13
In this file photo, police personnel guard a mosque in Paris. PHOTO: REUTERS
PARIS:
A soldier and a passer-by were slightly injured when a man tried to run his car into troops protecting a mosque in Valence in southern France on Friday, mayor Nicolas Daragon told the iTELE news channel.
The driver was also injured when the soldiers shot at him, Daragon said. The man was taken to hospital, and the mayor said his identity, motives and psychiatric state were not yet known.
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The passer-by was injured by a stray bullet shot by the soldiers, he said.
"The four soldiers were in front of the mosque, a moderate, quiet mosque, in between two prayers, at a time when many worshippers arrived," Daragon said. "A car drove at them."
The driver tried twice to hit the soldiers and they shot at him on his second attempt, he said.
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France has been on high alert since Islamic State militants killed 130 people in shootings and suicide bombings in Paris on Nov. 13.
A soldier and a passer-by were slightly injured when a man tried to run his car into troops protecting a mosque in Valence in southern France on Friday, mayor Nicolas Daragon told the iTELE news channel.
The driver was also injured when the soldiers shot at him, Daragon said. The man was taken to hospital, and the mayor said his identity, motives and psychiatric state were not yet known.
Protesters attempt burning copies of Holy Quran on French island
The passer-by was injured by a stray bullet shot by the soldiers, he said.
"The four soldiers were in front of the mosque, a moderate, quiet mosque, in between two prayers, at a time when many worshippers arrived," Daragon said. "A car drove at them."
The driver tried twice to hit the soldiers and they shot at him on his second attempt, he said.
French Muslim leader calls for doubling of mosques
France has been on high alert since Islamic State militants killed 130 people in shootings and suicide bombings in Paris on Nov. 13.