Arras: Emmanuel Macron requires “unity” within the face of the “barbarism of Islamist terrorism”

Emmanuel Macron referred to as on the French on Friday to stay “united” and to “stand collectively” within the face of “the barbarity of Islamist terrorism”, after the knife assault in Arras the place a instructor was killed and two folks significantly injured, in opposition to a backdrop of for worry of importing the battle between Israel and Hamas.

“The selection is made to not give in to terror”

“Let’s keep united”, “we stand collectively as a unit and we stand collectively”, declared the pinnacle of state within the courtyard of a constructing positioned reverse the center college the place the assault came about on Friday morning. “I’m right here to point out the assist of the nation, to say that we’re united and that we’re holding on”, “the selection is made to not give in to terror, to not let something divide us”, the president mentioned once more , who had already referred to as on the French on Thursday night for “unity” after the Hamas assault in opposition to Israel.

The killed instructor “first intervened and undoubtedly saved many lives himself”, greeted the President of the Republic, recalling that this assault came about three years after the assassination, on 16 October 2020, by Samuel Paty. Emmanuel Macron additionally paid “tribute to all (the) lecturers”. He praised the “extraordinary braveness” of the employees of the institution and “all of the elected officers of the territory who’re united”, in addition to “the responsiveness of all inside safety providers”.

One other tried assault foiled

The president additionally indicated that one other “tried assault”, “in one other area”, had been foiled because of an intervention by the police. He was referring to the arrest and placement in police custody for carrying a prohibited weapon of a person identified for “radicalization”, as he left a prayer room in Limay (Yvelines), mentioned the ministry of the Inside. At this stage, this investigation is within the fingers of the Versailles prosecutor’s workplace, and never the nationwide anti-terrorism prosecutor’s workplace.

Arriving shortly earlier than 3:00 p.m., Emmanuel Macron stayed for nearly two hours on the Gambetta highschool in Arras, accompanied by the Ministers of the Inside Gérald Darmanin and of Training Gabriel Attal. He greeted and interacted with the rescue groups, law enforcement officials, members of the instructing crew and college students of the institution. Some had been taken care of by a psychological unit. Popping out, he paused in entrance of the physique of the instructor who was nonetheless in entrance of the institution, lined with a blanket. Forensic groups had been on web site.