Lyon, France: Parcel Bomb Filled With Nails,Bolts Explodes, Multiple Injured
A parcel bomb containing nails and bolts exploded in Lyon, France on Friday, injuring at least 13 people, including an 8 year old girl. It is being investigated as a possible terror attack, as an investigation was opened by the Paris Prosecutor, who has jurisdiction over terrorist incidents, according to Australian news. The masked suspect was caught on Closed Circuit TV. At least two of the victims are in serious condition, but none of the injuries were life-threatening. Eleven of the injured were taken to the hospital.
The bomb went off outside a bakery on Victor-Hugo Street at around 5:30 p.m. local time in Lyon, injuring the pedestrians that were nearby. The downtown district is an historic one; the pedestrian street is a narrow strip between the Rhone and Saone Rivers.
French police immediately flooded into the area, blocking off the street. A nationwide manhunt has been launched for the suspect. They released the following appeal for assistance in finding him:
Some authorities said it was “too soon” to say if it was a terror attack.
#French police swarm streets after bomb filled with bolts goes off in #Lyonhttps://t.co/J3keFen4i2 pic.twitter.com/FSViBS6wiy
— RT (@RT_com) May 24, 2019
French police hunt suspect after #Lyon #BombAttack https://t.co/5Zisy4ae9L
— Digital Journal (@digitaljournal) May 24, 2019
UPDATE: At least 13 people have been injured by a bomb explosion in the French city of #Lyon. President Emmanuel Macron has called the incident an 'attack' and confirmed that there are no fatalities. pic.twitter.com/hvoYL8E4mK
— MDWLive! News (@MDWLiveFeed) May 24, 2019
VIDEO: The scene in #Lyon after parcel bomb, reportedly packed with shrapnel, exploded outside a bakery in the centre of the city. pic.twitter.com/wHWxGZthSj #France #EU
— Sam Pye (@freddie1999) May 24, 2019
As of this writing, the suspect is still on the run, and forensic teams are scouring the scene for evidence. According to the BBC, the last parcel bomb that exploded in France was in 2007.
The bomb blast comes just days before France will vote in Parliamentary elections (on May 26). Macron’s centrist party is locked in a battle with the populist party headed by Marine LePen. She called it the “referendum the people never got” – a reference to the “yellow vest” protests.
Featured photo: screenshot via Twitter @MossadNews
