A French official says police have arrested the chief suspect in a car attack on a group of soldiers in a Parisian suburb on Wednesday. The suspect was wounded in a gunfight during his capture.
The judicial official said the man was the driver of a BMW that rammed into a group of soldiers Wednesday in the Paris suburb of Levallois-Perret.
Six soldiers were injured in the attack.
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Levallois-Perret Mayor Patrick Balkany said the car was parked in an alley before it accelerated into the soldiers as they left their barracks to go on patrol duty.
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Speaking to broadcaster BFM TV, Balkany said that what he called a “disgusting” act of aggression was “without any doubt” premeditated.
The officials weren’t authorized to be publicly named discussing an ongoing investigation.
“It all happened very quickly. The vehicle did not stop. It hurtled at them … it accelerated rapidly.” The soldiers were rushed to hospital, he added.
France remains on maximum alert after a string of attacks in which Islamist militants or Islamist-inspired attackers have killed more than 230 people over the past two years.
The area, quieter than normal in peak summer holiday season, was cordoned off after the incident, which happened at around 8:00 a.m., police said.
Levallois-Perret is about five kilometres from city centre landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the Elysee Presidential Palace.
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