1 beheaded in attack, explosion at French gas factory

PARIS — One person was beheaded Friday in an attack and explosion at a gas factory in southeastern France that left multiple people wounded, two officials said. Banners with Arabic writing were found near the body, one of the officials said.

Details of the attack were sketchy but two French officials said it began mid-morning in the Isere region when the men crashed a car into the entrance of the factory and into gas canisters, touching off the explosion. One attacker was arrested, they said.

The decapitated body and the banners were found near the factory entrance, one of the officials said.

Both officials spoke condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the news media.

France went on high alert after an attack in January that left 20 people dead in the Paris region, including the Islamic extremist attackers.