Attack on students ‘not terror’

THE four American tourists attacked with acid at a train station in Marseilles are students at Boston College in Massachusetts but French authorities believe it is not terrorism related.

The four females were treated for burns after being sprayed in the face with acid on Sunday but have been released from hospital, the private Jesuit college stated.

They were junior students with three at the college’s Paris program.

The college’s Office of International Programs director Nick Gozik says “it appears that the students are fine, considering the circumstances.”

They were identified as Courtney Siverling, Charlotte Kaufman, Michelle Krug and Kelsey Kosten.

A woman, 41, was arrested after the attack. Boston College says police described the suspect as “disturbed” and French authorities are not treating the incident as a terrorist attack for the time being.

The Paris prosecutor’s office said its counter-terrorism division had not assumed jurisdiction for the attack at Marseilles’ main train station.

A spokeswoman for Marseilles’ prosecutor said the woman arrested did not make any extremist declarations, but said officials could not rule out terror as a motive.

Regional newspaper La Provence, quoting unidentified police officials, reported the suspect had a history of mental health problems.