Acid attack on American students in France wasn't terrorism, cops say

An acid attack on four American college students at a French train station Sunday is not being treated by police as a terrorist incident. The suspected attacker, a 41-year-old woman arrested at the scene, was described by authorities as mentally unstable.

The juniors at Boston College, all studying in Europe, were attacked around 11 a.m. at Marseille-Saint Charles train station in the southern French city, local police said.

The victims were taken to hospital and treated for burns. While the students have since been released, some may require ongoing treatment, according to a statement from the college.

“It appears that the students are fine, considering the circumstances, though they may require additional treatment for burns,” said Nick Gozik, director of the college’s office of international programs.

Three of the students, Courtney Siverling, Charlotte Kaufman, and Michelle Krug, are studying in Paris. The fourth, Kesley Kosten, is a student at the Copenhagen Business School in Denmark.

Siverling posted on Facebook Sunday thanking people who had expressed their support. “I did not receive any injuries from the attack in Marseille this morning and we are all safe,” she wrote. “I pray that the attacker would be healed from her mental illness.”

After her arrest, the suspect was hospitalized, authorities said. No extremist threats were made during or after the attack.

French media reported that the substance used in the assault was a household-cleaning product containing hydrochloric acid.

The use of acid as a weapon has been growing in many parts of the world, particularly in Britain, where acid attacks have tripled in the past three years.

In London alone, there were more than 430 reported acid attacks last year, as young people increasingly arm themselves with highly corrosive but widely available household products as a weapon for use in street crime or gang violence.