Guard is stabbed at French consulate in Saudi Arabia on day of attacks in France amid Islamic anger at Macron over Prophet Mohammed cartoons
- Attacker was arrested after injuring the guard with a ‘sharp tool’ in Jeddah today
- France’s embassy said guard was taken to hospital but his life is not in danger
- It comes on a day of two attacks by assailants shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ in France
- France has been the target of Islamic anger over Prophet Mohammed cartoons
A guard was stabbed at a French consulate in Saudi Arabia today on a day of two attacks by assailants shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ in France.
The attacker was arrested after stabbing and injuring the guard with a ‘sharp tool’ at the French compound in Jeddah, according to official media.
France’s embassy in Riyadh said the guard was taken to hospital and his life is not in danger, but condemned the ‘attack on diplomatic premises which can never be justified’.
French diplomats also called on Saudi authorities to ‘shed light on this attack’ and ensure the safety of French people in the kingdom.
‘We call on our colleagues in Saudi Arabia to show maximum vigilance,’ the embassy said.
It comes amid anger at France from across the Islamic world after president Emmanuel Macron staunchly defended the blasphemous Prophet Mohammed cartoons which led to a teacher’s beheading two weeks ago.
Today three people were killed at a church in Nice with two of them thought to have been beheaded by an attacker who repeatedly shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’.
Later on Thursday morning, reports said a man had been shot dead in Avignon after threatening people with a knife and shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’.
More to follow.
France and its president Emmanuel Macron have been the focus of anger in the Islamic world in recent days (pictured, a Macron portrait is burned in the West Bank)