Students in France acid attack show compassion

BOSTON — American college students attacked with acid at a train station in France have offered compassion and prayers for their assailant, who authorities say suffers from a mental illness.

French authorities have said they don’t believe extremist views motivated the 41-yearold woman arrested in the attack on the four Boston College students, who are studying abroad.

One of the students, Courtney Siverling, said in a post on Facebook that she was not injured and that all the women are “safe.”

“I pray that the attacker would be healed from her mental illness in the name of Jesus and receive the forgiveness and salvation that can only come from Him,” said Siverling, of Chester Springs, Penn.

The four women intend to remain in Europe to continue their studies, the spokesperson for Boston College told The Associated Press.

The four were attacked Sunday morning at the Saint Charles train station in the southern French city of Marseille.

Police in France described the suspect as “disturbed” and said the attack was not thought to be terror-related, according to a statement from Boston College, a private Jesuit school.

Michelle Krug said she was one of two who got hit in the eye with “a weak solution of hydrochloric acid.”

She asked friends to “please consider thinking about/praying for our attacker” so she can receive help.

“Mental illness is not a choice and should not be villainized,” Krug, of White Plains, N.Y., wrote.