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Two women stabbed to death at Marseille station, attacker shot by police

Police have urged people in the city to avoid the area around Saint-Charles station.

France Knife Attack A passenger waits Marseille's main train station as French police officers patrol. PA Images PA Images

Updated at 4.45pm

A MAN ARMED with a knife killed two women at the main train station in the Mediterranean port city of Marseille today before being shot by soldiers patrolling there, local officials said.

“Two victims have been stabbed to death,” regional police chief Olivier de Mazieres told AFP, referring to the attack which occurred at 1:45pm (12.45 Irish time).

Local prosecutor Xavier Tarabeux said the knifeman had been shot by soldiers, while the Marseille police urged people in the city to avoid the area around Saint-Charles station.

France Knife Attack French police officers block the access to Marseille's main train station. PA Images PA Images

The deaths came with France still on high alert following a string of terror attacks which began in January 2015 when jihadist gunmen stormed the offices of the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, killing 12.

The government has since launched Operation Sentinelle, deploying about 7,000 troops across the country to guard high-risk areas such as transport hubs, tourist sites and religious buildings.

The knifeman is believed to have shouted “Allahu Akbar” (God is Greatest) before assaulting passers-by, a source close to the investigation told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The attacks since 2015 have left 239 people dead, according to an AFP count before Sunday’s incident.

French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb posted on Twitter that he would travel to Marseille immediately.

© – AFP, 2017

Read: Seventh person arrested in connection with Parsons Green train bombing

Read: Four US tourists targeted in acid attack at French train station

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    Mute Spud Geshletter
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    Dec 22nd 2022, 4:01 PM

    Work away we know what the Ulster answer will be

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    Dec 22nd 2022, 4:40 PM

    @Spud Geshletter: One word NO

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    Dec 22nd 2022, 4:58 PM

    Brexit was never about reason, except reasons concerning delusions of grandeur and hatred of Johnny Foreigner. I wonder precisely how bad things need to get before the British come to their senses.

    And that excludes the DUP, because (1) they’ll never come to their senses, and (2) they’re not British but Irish.

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    Mute Billy Edwards
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    Dec 22nd 2022, 6:37 PM

    Weeks and months of talks, and all they can agree to is the need to talk to each other? It’s absolutely crazy.

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    Mute Philip Cooper
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    Dec 22nd 2022, 8:31 PM

    It doesn’t sit well with me to have these two politicians discussing the future of our island.

    They can move the furniture around as much as they like, we’ll have the keys back soon.

    #32

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    Mute David Van-Standen
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    Dec 22nd 2022, 7:11 PM

    Maybe they now have those promised new technologies that will make it all work seamlessly, that were the UK’s answer to all the issues that were raised around northern ireland and brexit years ago, but at least they are working together to find a path to nowhere.

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    Mute Gavin Wallace
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    Dec 23rd 2022, 7:37 AM

    @David Van-Standen: Trader support service – free to use. Just needs automation next, will be the amazon of customs.

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