Knife attack at French train station leaves 1 dead & 9 wounded

31 Aug, 2019 15:47 / Updated 5 years ago

A suspected knife assault near a train station in Villeurbanne, France, has left one person dead and nine wounded, according to reports. Police are believed to have arrested one man.

The attack occurred on Saturday afternoon at Laurent Bonnevay station in Villeurbanne, metropolitan Lyon. Local media reported that a man allegedly attacked people in the parking lot at random, with the latest tally of casualties standing at one 19-year-old dead and nine wounded.

One man has reportedly been arrested, and the rumored presence of a second attacker remains unconfirmed by official sources. 

The city’s Metro service was suspended as police descended on the scene.

Police sources told BFM TV that the arrested suspect is an Afghan national in his 30s. Other outlets reported that the man has given several conflicting identities to police since his arrest.

Footage shared on social media purportedly shows a crowd of onlookers surrounding and subduing one of the suspects at one of the station’s elevators. In one video, the alleged suspect appears to drop a knife on the ground when confronted.

Police have not yet said whether they believe the incident was a terrorist attack. They have asked people nearby not to disturb their investigation.

DETAILS TO FOLLOW