Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • Videos
  • Career & Education
  • Classifieds
  • All Woman
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Design Week
Dozens injured in 3 separate attacks in France
A police officer guards the van that crashed into a French Christmas market in Nantes, western France, Monday, December 22, 2014 (Photo: AP).
News
December 21, 2014

Dozens injured in 3 separate attacks in France

PARIS (AP) — French authorities urged calm after a series of attacks across the country left dozens of people injured, and said there was no evidence the violent acts were connected by any terrorist motive.

In the latest incident, 11 people were injured after a driver crashed his van into a crowded Christmas market in western France Monday evening. The driver then stabbed himself several times and is among five people hospitalized in serious condition, authorities said.

The attack, in the town Nantes, came after a pair of weekend attacks: one in which another driver ran down 13 bystanders in the city Dijon in eastern France, and one in which a recent convert to Islam knifed police officers outside the city of Tours.

Speaking on French television, Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet said the driver in Nantes “deliberately crashed into the crowd.”

While police investigations continued late Monday, local prosecutor Brigitte Lamy said the incident was an isolated incident and “not a terrorist act.”

Lamy said the driver was a 37-year-old man born in the western French city of Saintes, about 240 kilometres (150 miles) south of Nantes.

Video images on French television showed a white Peugeot van in the market at the city’s main square, surrounded by police and rescue workers.

In a signal of how serious the government was taking the attacks, Prime Minister Manuel Valls issued a statement late Monday calling for calm and vigilance.

The series of attacks, he said, “concerns us all.”

Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve was heading to Nantes Monday evening after spending the day in Dijon.

The driver there was arrested following the attack, while the assailant who stabbed the officers outside the city of Tours was shot to death by police. None of the victims in those attacks died.

The prosecutor in Dijon said the driver behind the attack in that city has a long history of severe mental illness and no links to terrorism.

The man, who is 40, has admitted his role in the attack, said prosecutor Marie-Christine Tarrare. She said the man, the French-born son of North African immigrants, acted alone and had no religious motivations, but was upset at the treatment of Chechen children.

He shouted ‘God is great’ to give himself courage to act, and not out of religious belief, Tarrare said.

However, counter-terrorist police are investigating the attack Saturday on police in a suburb of Tours, which left two officers seriously injured and a third with light injuries.

Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said that attacker, who was killed by police, was a 20-year-old from Burundi named Bertrand. Police believe he’d been drawn to radical Islam several years ago by his 19-year-old brother Brice, who’s been detained for questioning by police in Burundi, Molins said.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Shanti Ruben spreads message of love, unity through music
Entertainment, Latest News
Shanti Ruben spreads message of love, unity through music
June 22, 2026
For more than three decades, roots reggae artiste Shanti Ruben has remained committed to using music as a force for positive change, spreading message...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Messi sets World Cup scoring record as Argentina down Austria
Latest News, Sports
Messi sets World Cup scoring record as Argentina down Austria
June 22, 2026
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Lionel Messi became the World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer on Monday, scoring twice as holders Argentina power...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
DR Congo Ebola outbreak tops 1,000 cases, kills 254
International News, Latest News
DR Congo Ebola outbreak tops 1,000 cases, kills 254
June 22, 2026
KINSHASA, DR Congo (AFP)—More than 1,000 Ebola infections have been recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the latest outbreak has killed...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
University student and business executive win Mister and Mister Teen Universe International Jamaica titles
Entertainment, Latest News
University student and business executive win Mister and Mister Teen Universe International Jamaica titles
BY KEVIN JACKSON Observer Writer 
June 22, 2026
After three months of training and preparation, the winners in the 2026 Mister and Mister Teen Universe International Jamaica competitions were announ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Holness refuses to state whether FID has said there’s no case for him to answer
Latest News, News
Holness refuses to state whether FID has said there’s no case for him to answer
June 22, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness was circumspect on Monday when he responded to a question about the state of the investigation by...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Messi sets World Cup scoring record with 17th goal
Latest News, Sports
Messi sets World Cup scoring record with 17th goal
June 22, 2026
ARLINGTON, United States (AFP) — Lionel Messi became the leading scorer in World Cup history when the Argentina captain netted against Austria on Mond...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
SGR to host Dynamic Elevated Lifestyle Open House
Latest News, News
SGR to host Dynamic Elevated Lifestyle Open House
June 22, 2026
Stella Global Realty (SGR) Jamaica Ltd has officially announced it will host the Dynamic Elevated Lifestyle Open House on Saturday, June 27, 2026. The...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Holness to meet Wheatley after Cabinet about troubling IC report
Latest News, News
Holness to meet Wheatley after Cabinet about troubling IC report
June 22, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness says he will be meeting with embattled Minister of Science, Technology and Special Projects Dr An...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct