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French President Emmanuel Macron traveled to Nice after the deadly attack
Photo: Eric Gaillard / dpa
French President Emmanuel Macron has classified the fatal knife attack in Nice as an "Islamist terrorist attack" and condemned it resolutely.
He announced that he would more than double the number of soldiers protecting buildings in the country.
On Thursday morning, an alleged Islamist attacker killed at least three people and injured six others.
Macron had traveled to Nice to get an idea of the situation on site.
All of France is being attacked, said Macron.
"If we are attacked," Macron continued, "it is because of our values, our freedom and our steadfastness against terrorism."
But the country will "not give in" in the dispute over its values.
According to Macron, an increase in the number of soldiers should help guard important places such as places of worship and schools.
Instead of the current 3,000, 7,000 soldiers are to be provided in the future.
The highest terror warning level applies in France
The alleged Islamist attacker in Nice broke into the Notre-Dame church in the morning and attacked several people there with a knife.
Police were able to arrest the attacker, the Paris anti-terrorist prosecutor took over the investigation.
The highest terror warning level has been declared across the country.
The attack in Nice was not the only alleged Islamist attack directed against France.
Only a short time after the fact, police officers in a village near Avignon killed a suspected attacker who is said to have threatened passers-by with a weapon.
In Saudi Arabia, a man was also arrested after he had stabbed a security guard at the French consulate in Jeddah.
Islamic countries have been inciting Macron for days
For days there have been angry protests against France in many Islamic countries.
Politicians from Turkey, Iran and Egypt, among others, were indignant about the renewed showing of Mohammed cartoons in the French media.
Among others, the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called for a boycott and sharply attacked French President Emmanuel Macron.
Just two weeks ago a teacher was beheaded in a suburb of Paris.
The crime had caused horror across the country.
After the fact, Macron had defended the showing of Mohammed cartoons.
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mrc / AP / AFP / Reuters
