France: Islamic State claims knife attack in Marseille Oct. 1 /update 2

Event

On the evening of Sunday, October 1, the Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the fatal double stabbing at Marseille’s Saint-Charles train station earlier that day through its news agency Amaq. The assailant was shot dead by French security forces shortly after the attack began.

As of October 2, normal rail traffic has resumed at the station and no further disruptions are expected.

Context

The security forces that killed the assailant are operating under Opération Sentinelle, a directive that tasks some 10,000 French soldiers with the protection of public places from acts of terrorism. It is part of measures introduced amid an ongoing state of emergency in France, which was declared in November 2015 in response to terrorist attacks in the capital Paris that killed some 130 people. At least 20 attacks - including the most recent October 1 attack - have taken place in France since the state of emergency came into effect, leaving nearly 100 people dead.

French President Emmanuel Macron declared in June 2017 that he expects to allow the state of emergency to expire in November. However, Macron and the French parliament are expected to pass legislation on October 3 that would enshrine emergency counterterrorism powers into common law beginning on November 1.

Advice

Individuals in Marseille should avoid the cordoned area and monitor the situation. Significant disruption to rail and vehicle travel in the city and surrounding area is likely over the coming hours.