Afghan Man Detained Following Mass Knife Attack In France RFE

Police in France detained an Afghan asylum-seeker after one person was killed and nine others injured in a knife attack near a commuter train station outside Lyon.

Authorities on August 31 described the attacker as a 33-year-old Afghan citizen who had applied for asylum in France and was waiting for a response.

Police said a 19-year-old man was killed and three of the others were in critical condition following what was described as a “frenzied” attack.

“There was blood everywhere,” said a woman who witnessed the attack in the town of Villeurbanne.

Authorities said the incident did not immediately appear to be terrorism-related and it was not known if the assailant knew the victims.

French cities are on high alert following several deadly attacks blamed on Islamic extremists in 2015 and 2016.