France: Firecracker injures two in Créteil (Paris region) Oct. 16 /update 1

Event

On Monday afternoon, October 16, a large firecracker was reportedly thrown into a construction site near the courthouse in Créteil, a town situated in the southeastern Parisian suburbs (Val-de-Marne department). According to local reports, the blast lightly injured two workers present at the construction site.

According to police sources, the incident is being treated as a criminal act, with no indication of any terrorist element involved. The courthouse does not appear to have been targeted.

Context

France remains on high alert for terrorist activity; early reports of a detonation in Créteil prompted a significant police response as a precaution.

A state of emergency was declared in France in November 2015 in response to terrorist attacks in Paris that killed some 130 people. At least 20 attacks - including the most recent October 1 knife attack - have taken place in France since the state of emergency came into effect, leaving nearly 100 people dead.

Advice

Individuals in the area are advised to keep abreast of the situation and to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities.