Man tries to attack soldier in Paris

A knife-wielding man tried to attack a soldier here on Friday, the French Defence Minister Florence Parly said.

"We do not know anything more about the intentions of the assailant who has been arrested," Parly told the media.

According to French media, the man made references to the Islamic State (IS) terror group during the attack, which took place at around 6.30 a.m., at the Chatelet metro station, reports Efe news.

The target was a soldier who was part of an anti-terror operation in which thousands of troops and police have been deployed since January 2015.

Parly said the failed attack, which was immediately thwarted, demonstrated the operation's ability to protect France's citizens.

France has been under a state of emergency since a series of coordinated attacks in Paris in November 2015 which left 130 people dead.

--IANS

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