French police were on Saturday hunting a suspect believed to have deposited a paper bag containing an explosive device that went off, wounding 13 people in a busy pedestrian street in the city of Lyon the previous day.
France’s counter-terrorism prosecutor, Remy Heitz, said an investigation has been opened for “attempted murderer in relation with a terrorist undertaking” and “criminal terrorist association.”
He said no group has claimed responsibility for the explosion yet.
WATCH: Manhunt continues for suspected suitcase bomber in France
![Click to play video: 'Manhunt continues for suspected suitcase bomber in France'](https://i1.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/854/23/france.jpg?w=1040&quality=70&strip=all)
Regional authorities said 13 people suffered mostly minor injuries, including 11 who were still in the hospital on Saturday morning.
French President Emmanuel Macron called the explosion an “attack” during a live interview Friday about the European Parliament elections that run through Sunday.
![Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.](https://globalnews.ca/wp-content/themes/shaw-globalnews/images/skyline/national.jpg)
Get daily National news
Heitz described video surveillance that show the suspect heading toward Lyon city centre on a bike Friday afternoon.
WATCH: French prosecutor says no claim made for suspected suitcase bomb in France
![Click to play video: 'French prosecutor says no claim made for suspected suitcase bomb in France'](https://i0.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/903/347/paris.jpg?w=1040&quality=70&strip=all)
The man was seen arriving on foot, pushing his bike, in the pedestrian Victor Hugo street. He was seen leaving a paper bag on a concrete block in the middle of the street near a bakery, Heitz said.
The suspect immediately returned to his bike and left by the same path. One minute later, the explosion shattered the glass of a cooler in the bakery, Heitz said.
Investigators on the scene have found screws, metallic balls, a triggering device that can be used remotely and plastic pieces that may come from the explosive device.
WATCH: Explosion reported at gas station in Colborne
![Click to play video: 'Explosion reported at gas station in Colborne'](https://i1.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/874/119/Explosion_at_gas_station_in_Colborne_848x480_1526705731544.jpg?w=1040&quality=70&strip=all)
Police issued an appeal for witnesses Saturday with a photo of the suspect, described as “dangerous”, caught on video surveillance.
Heitz said police will release more photos soon. The man was wearing a cap and sunglasses partially hiding his face.
- Court in Ontario city struggling with gun crime closes over safety fears
- Sonya Massey: Deputy charged in fatal shooting worked for 6 agencies in 4 years
- Defence seeking six-year sentence for former fashion tycoon Peter Nygard
- Sonya Massey: Bodycam shows Illinois deputy shooting Black woman in her home
Comments