France terror attack: 47-year-old decapitated in Paris suburb named as teacher Samuel Paty
The French president describes it as a cowardly attack, saying the man was killed because he taught the freedom of expression.
The teacher killed in a suburb of Paris in an Islamist terror attack was a teacher named Samuel Paty, Sky News has confirmed.
Mr Paty, 47, was assassinated, France’s president has said.
The history teacher, who is said to have discussed images of the Prophet Muhammad with his pupils, was beheaded, it has been reported.
The suspected attacker was shot dead about 600 metres from the scene, according to the AP news agency.
It happened on a street in Conflans Sainte-Honorine, northwest of the French capital, at about 5pm local time.
Visiting the scene, Emmanuel Macron called it a cowardly attack, saying that the man was a victim of an Islamist terrorist attack and was killed because he taught the freedom of expression, of believing and not believing.
The president said France would protect and defend its teachers.
