The French terror suspect behind the horrific beheading at an Air Product gas factory in central France is believed to have taken a "selfie" with the slain victim's severed head and sent it to a Canadian phone number via Facebook's WhatsApp messaging service, officials said Saturday.
French investigators are trying to identify the recipient of selfie, the Associated Press reported. Media reports said that the unspecified recipient is now in an Islamic State-held location in Syria.
Canadian officials said on Saturday that they were assisting French police in probe. "Though I can't comment on operational aspects of national security, I can say that we are helping French authorities in their investigation," said Jean-Christophe de Le Rue, spokesman in Public Safety Ministry, according to emirates247.
Thirty-five-year-old terror suspect Yassin Salhi, a truck driver, crashed a truck into an Air Product factory in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier on Friday and hung his boss Herve Cornara's severed head on a factory gate, BBC News reported. Islamists flags with Arabic inscriptions were found on the scene.
After top suspect Salhi's arrest at the factory, his wife and sister, as well as an unknown fourth suspect, were also arrested. No group has claimed responsibility yet.
"We have no doubt that the attack was to blow up the building. It bears the hallmarks of a terrorist attack," French President Hollande said after a security meeting on Saturday.
Air Product, a U.S. owned leading industrial gases company, issued a statement after the attack. "I am horrified and saddened by the attack on our facility in France. I believe I speak for all of our Air Products family around the world in expressing our deepest sympathies to the family of the victim of this unspeakable act," said Seifi Ghasemi, Chairman and President of Air Products.
