Paris: Airport attacker shouted I am here to die, there will be deaths

Paris March 19 (IANS) French authorities are treating the attack at Orly airport as a terrorist incident and have placed three people in custody. The Paris prosecutor said that the attacker Ziyed Ben Belgacem shouted Islamic slogans before being fatally shot by security staff.

I am here to die for Allah there will be deaths the 39-year-old cried the RT online reported adding that he attempted to wrest an assault rifle of a young female air force member on duty at Orly according to Paris prosecutor Francois Molins who held a press conference in the French capital on Saturday.

Molins said that Ben Belgacem who had a string of theft and drug-related convictions had been radicalised in prison – a fact that had been noted by the authorities at the time - and was on probation prior to the attack.

Earlier French officials revealed that Ben Belgacem a French citizen shot and wounded a police officers who had attempted to stop him at a checkpoint near Le Bourget another airport near Paris. He also reportedly carjacked a vehicle before setting off for Orly one of the country s busiest transport hubs.

Molins said that Ben Belgacem carried a can of petrol into the terminal building which he flung down before engaging in a violent altercation with the air force patrol staff. Two soldiers then intervened and fired eight bullets in three bursts at the man killing him instantly. A Koran was found on his body.

--IANS
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