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World

France finds no links among 3 attacks in 3 days, raises security as precaution

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    Police officers guard the van that crashed into a French Christmas market in Nantes, western France, Monday, Dec. 22, 2014. France’s top security official says the driver stabbed himself several times after the incident. Eleven people including the driver were injured in the accident, which happened at a busy market full of holiday shoppers. (AP Photo/Laetitia Notarianni) (The Associated Press)

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    A police officer guards the van that crashed into a French Christmas market in Nantes, western France, Monday, Dec. 22, 2014. French authorities urged calm after a series of attacks across the country left dozens of people injured, and said there was no evidence the attacks were connected by any terrorist motive. In the latest incident, 11 people were injured after a driver crashed his van into a crowded Christmas market in western France Monday evening. The driver then stabbed himself several times and is among five people hospitalized in serious condition, authorities said. (AP Photo/Laetitia Notarianni) (The Associated Press)

NANTES, France – France's government on Tuesday denied any links between three attacks in as many days, including two nearly identical rampages by drivers who plowed into holiday crowds, but announced plans to further raise security in public spaces.

The prime minister said the attacks were unrelated to terrorism. Lamenting "the ravages of propaganda on fragile minds," he urged France to remain calm and avoid overreacting to isolated incidents.

In the western city of Nantes late Monday, a van burst into a Christmas market, injuring 10 people before the driver began stabbing himself. The night before, in the eastern city of Dijon, a driver shouting 'God is great' in Arabic ran down several crowds, injuring 13 people before coming to a stop.

And on Saturday, an attacker knifed three police before he was shot to death by one of the officers. The man's brother was arrested the same day in Burundi, their homeland. French counterterrorism investigators were called in to the case.

"These three events have no link," French President Francois Hollande said.

The drivers in the attacks in Nantes and Dijon both had long histories of mental illness, officials said.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls said there were no ties with terrorism in the attacks, but nonetheless announced that security would be increased in public spaces during the holidays.

"Just because someone takes an image pervasive in society at a given moment and wants to take part in a kind of violence seen elsewhere, doesn't mean the person is motivated by politics or religion," said Jean-Marie Le Guen, another top official.

In Nantes, bystanders ran toward the attacker as he was stabbing himself, said Mohammed Bader Ghegate, one of the witnesses who ended up at the man's side. Contrary to media reports, Ghegate said the attacker did not say 'God is great' in Arabic.

"I said that to myself: 'Allahu Akbar, help us so there is no bloodshed,'" Ghegate told The Associated Press.

On Tuesday, the Christmas market was shuttered, and vendors milling around wore white armbands in solidarity.

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Hinnant reported from Paris.