France shudders after London attack,
Le Pen demands border controls
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen on Thursday said the lone-wolf attack outside
parliament in London underscored the need for tighter border controls, as
France shuddered at an incident that reopened wounds inflicted by similar
assaults at home.
parliament in London underscored the need for tighter border controls, as
France shuddered at an incident that reopened wounds inflicted by similar
assaults at home.
Security is a major campaign issue ahead of next month's close-fought
presidential election, in which Le Pen is seen reaching the second round
on a nationalist, anti-immigration platform.
presidential election, in which Le Pen is seen reaching the second round
on a nationalist, anti-immigration platform.
Wednesday's attack has dominated French news coverage and served as a
poignant reminder of militant attacks on French soil that have killed more
230 people since the start of 2015.
poignant reminder of militant attacks on French soil that have killed more
230 people since the start of 2015.
"The problem we have nowadays is this form of low-cost terrorism," the
National Front leader told BFM TV and RMC radio, adding "we must
control our borders".
National Front leader told BFM TV and RMC radio, adding "we must
control our borders".
Three French schoolchildren were among those hurt by the London attacker
who ploughed into pedestrians as he sped along Westminster bridge toward
the British parliament.
who ploughed into pedestrians as he sped along Westminster bridge toward
the British parliament.
British Prime Minister Theresa May said the assailant who killed three
people and injured dozens before being shot dead was British-born.
Police arrested eight people in a series of raids in London, Birmingham
and other parts of the country.
people and injured dozens before being shot dead was British-born.
Police arrested eight people in a series of raids in London, Birmingham
and other parts of the country.
The deadliest attacks in France over the past two years have been claimed by
Islamic State, the hardline militant group that controls swathes of Iraq and Syria.
Islamic State, the hardline militant group that controls swathes of Iraq and Syria.
In one of those attacks, a Tunisian-born devotee of Islamic State killed 86 people
in the southern city of Nice when he drove his truck along a seafront promenade.
in the southern city of Nice when he drove his truck along a seafront promenade.
British investigators say the London assault was an act of terrorism that Prime
Minister May said had been sparked by a warped Islamist ideology.
Minister May said had been sparked by a warped Islamist ideology.
Le Pen, who has the backing of about a quarter of the electorate and is running
second in opinion polls behind centrist Emmanuel Macron, said countries
needed to co-operate more with each other on sharing intelligence.
second in opinion polls behind centrist Emmanuel Macron, said countries
needed to co-operate more with each other on sharing intelligence.
She advocated closing down mosques with links to
extremism and revoking the French nationality of
those with more than one passport who were guilty of
committing attacks.
extremism and revoking the French nationality of
those with more than one passport who were guilty of
committing attacks.
Socialist Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who was
in London to meet British ministers and the injured
schoolchildren's families, said knee-jerk measures
were not the answer.
in London to meet British ministers and the injured
schoolchildren's families, said knee-jerk measures
were not the answer.
"We won't put up a wall that would stop life from continuing," he told reporters.
France is a member of the open-border Schengen agreement that operates among
several European countries.
several European countries.
French anti-terrorist police opened an inquiry into the incident on Thursday -
an automatic move that was due to the involvement of French victims.
an automatic move that was due to the involvement of French victims.
(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta, Editing by Dominique Vidalon and Richard Lough)
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