Police hunt suspect after 13 injured in Lyon explosion

Police hunt suspect after 13 injured in Lyon explosion

French police are hunting a suspect following an explosion that injured 13 people in a busy pedestrian street in Lyon.

The country’s counter-terrorism prosecutor, Remy Heitz, said an investigation has been launched into “attempted murderer in relation with a terrorist undertaking”.

He said no group has claimed responsibility for the explosion.

France Explosion
Scene of the explosion in Lyon (Sebastien Erome/AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron called the explosion an “attack” on Friday.

Mr Heitz described video surveillance that shows the suspect heading towards Lyon city centre on a bicycle on Friday afternoon.

The man was seen arriving on foot, pushing his bike, in the pedestrian Victor Hugo street. He was seen leaving a paper bag on a concrete block in the middle of the street near a bakery, Mr Heitz said.

The suspect immediately returned to his bike and left by the same path. One minute later, the explosion shattered the glass of a cooler in the bakery.

Investigators at the scene have found screws, metallic balls, a triggering device that can be used remotely and plastic pieces that may come from the explosive device.

Police issued an appeal for witnesses and described the suspect as “dangerous”.

– Advertisement –
– Advertisement –