A man has been decapitated during a suspected Islamist terror attack in France.
A message in Arabic was reportedly found on the victim’s head, which had been pinned to a fence.
Two attackers arrived at a gas factory near Grenoble in a car, bearing banners written in Arabic, and set off explosions.
France’s anti-terror prosecutor said the attack was carried out by “a terrorist group” and it is understood one man has been arrested.
Local reports say the man is claiming to be a member of Islamic State.
Speaking in Brussels, President Francois Hollande said the incident had “all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack” and the suspect in custody had been identified.
Attentat de Daesh à Saint-Quentin-Fallavier : un homme aurait été décapité http://t.co/NxjkVosbdh pic.twitter.com/VASWxxiDoe
— Victor Dhollande (@vdhollande) June 26, 2015
He said there was “no doubt” the terrorists, one man and an accomplice, meant to cause an explosion at the factory using gas cannisters.
He added: “The attack has all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack.
“A decapitated body was found with inscription written on it. There is one dead and two injured.
“The suspect was arrested and identified.”
He said France would “never give into fear” and the attack must not “create unnecessary division”
Prime Minister David Cameron expressed his sympathies over the incident to French President Francois Hollande.
The two leaders spoke in Brussels, where they are attending a European Council summit.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “He expressed his sympathies for what looks like an appalling incident.
“Details are still emerging, so we wait to see those. But it clearly looks an extremely concerning situation and our thoughts are with all those affected by it.”
France’s anti-terror prosecutor said the attack was carried out by “a terrorist group”.
France went on high alert in January after extremist brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi killed 12 people – including two police officers – in attacks on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris.
