Two dead in Paris knife attack

Two people are dead and at least four people were injured after a knife attack in Paris, police said Saturday.

The suspected attacker is believed to be among the dead, Paris Police wrote on Twitter. Two people are seriously injured and two sustained minor injuries, police added.

Agression de 5 personnes dans le 2ème arrondissement de Paris par un individu armé d’un couteau: une victime est décédée, deux sont blessées grièvement et deux sont blessées légèrement. L’agresseur est décédé.

— Préfecture de police (@prefpolice) May 12, 2018

The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) said through its Aamaq news agency that the assailant was one of its “soldiers,” according to The Associated Press. French counterterrorism authorities have taken over the investigation into the attack. 

{mosads}

The group did not provide any evidence for its claim, but said the alleged perpetrator carried out the attack in response to its call to target countries belonging to the U.S.-led coalition fighting ISIS militants in Iraq and Syria, the AP reported.

French President Emmanuel Macron hailed the police officers who responded to the attack on Saturday, tweeting that France would not yield to “the enemies of freedom.” France has suffered multiple terrorist attacks in recent years. 

La France paye une nouvelle fois le prix du sang mais ne cède pas un pouce aux ennemis de la liberté (2/2).

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) May 12, 2018

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said the assailant was “neutralized” within nine minutes of carrying out the attack. 

French Interior Minister Gérard Collomb condemned the knife attack in a tweet, and said that police had neutralized the threat.

Agression à #Paris : je salue le sang froid et la réactivité des forces de police qui ont neutralisé l’assaillant.
Mes premières pensées vont aux victimes de cet acte odieux.

— Gérard Collomb (@gerardcollomb) May 12, 2018

Updated at 10:11 p.m.