Thread: 'IS' motive for attack on Jewish teacher in France

A Turkish Kurd teenager who attacked a Jewish teacher in France said he was acting in the name of the Islamic State (IS) group, a prosecutor says.

The 15-year-old wounded the teacher slightly with a machete during the attack in the southern city of Marseille before being stopped.

The teacher was left with an injured shoulder and hand.

Militants said to be from IS killed 130 people in attacks in the capital Paris less than two months ago.

Interior Minister called the new attack a "revolting anti-Semitic aggression" while French President Francois Hollande later said such acts were "unspeakable and unjustifiable".

"[The teenager] claimed to have acted in the name of Allah and the Islamic State, repeating several times to have done [it] on behalf of Daesh [Islamic State]," the prosecutor, told a news conference.

The teen is said to be a good student who previously showed no signs of radicalization.

An attack by an IS supporter in Paris last January targeted a Jewish supermarket, where four people were killed, shortly after the deadly assault on the office of Charlie Hebdo magazine.

Since then, more than 700 synagogues, Jewish schools and community centres have been protected by police or soldiers.

'IS' motive for attack on Jewish teacher in France

French Jewish Leader Asks Males to Abandon Skullcap After Attack

The leader of the French Jewish community in Marseilles asked men and boys Tuesday to refrain from wearing the traditional skullcap, a day after a teenager attacked a Jewish teacher.

Zvi Ammar said his call to abandon the kippah "until better days" caused him great pain.

"As soon as we are identified as Jewish, we can be assaulted and even risk death," Ammar told French media. He said he would rather be criticized for his decision by fellow Jews than "regretting one day if by misfortune something very grave occurs."

A 15-year-old Turkish Kurd attacked a Jewish teacher with a machete in Marseilles on Monday, cutting his shoulder and hand. The suspect told police he acted in the name of the Islamic State.

French Jewish Leader Asks Males to Abandon Skullcap After Attack