LOC11:24
08:24 GMT
PARIS, Nov 19 (KUNA) -- French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve early Thursday expressed "indignation" in condemning racist attacks Wednesday that struck both Muslim and Jewish people in the southern city of Marseille.
Cazeneuve said that those responsible for such "indescribable" attacks would be found and put on trial.
His position follows an appeal by President Francois Hollande on Wednesday for the French people to remain united faced with terrorist attack because he warned the terrorists were seeking to divide the country.
"No xenophobic, anti-Semitic or anti-Muslim attack is to be tolerated," the French President said in a speech to France's Mayors yesterday.
On Thursday, the Interior Minister described an attack against a Muslim woman who was insulted, punched and slashed with a cutter leaving the Marseille subway because he was wearing a Hijab.
She was taken to the emergency room but her life is not in danger.
A second incident involved another stabbing, this time of a Jewish school teacher who was attacked by a gang, also in Marseille, and he also required hospital treatment.
Cazeneuve addressed "all support to the victims as well as to people in Marseille of Jewish and Muslim religion."
He said "everything will be done to find and arrest the perpetrators of these indescribable acts (and) they will have to answer for them before the courts."
Cazeneuve further recalled "the determination of the Government to combat all forms of racism and anti-Semitism and severely stamp out any apology for terrorism" or verbal support for terrorist attacks and activities.
"More than ever, French people must come together around the values of the Republic," the Minister said.
French authorities have warned that any attempt to take advantage of the atmosphere or conditions in France after last Friday's terror attacks would not be tolerated and a "State of Emergency" is in place that gives special powers to law enforcement in these exceptional conditions.
The latest information puts the death toll from the November 13 multiple attacks in Paris at 129. Over 350 were wounded in the shooting and bombing spree carried out by so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and their collaborators in France and Belgium. Dozens of people are still in critical condition in hospitals here. (End) jk.gta