Man arrested over soldier knife attack in Paris

French police have arrested a 22-year-old man in connection with a knife attack on a soldier near Paris on Saturday, officials say.

The suspect was detained on Wednesday morning in Yvelines, 45km (28 miles) southwest of the capital, Interior Minister Manuel Valls said.

Private First Class Cedric Cordier was stabbed in the neck while on patrol.

French anti-terrorist investigators are handling the case, saying the soldier was targeted because of his profession.

The suspect was traced thanks to DNA left at the scene, unnamed police sources told the AFP news agency.

Witnesses had earlier described the attacker as a bearded man of North African origin.

The man was monitored on security cameras and seen taking off his robe and running away wearing European clothes, officials said.

But Mr Walls warned against jumping to early conclusions.

"I remain cautious," he told French media.

"We need to know more about his motives, his background, his family environment."

Pfc Cordier was approached from behind and stabbed in the neck with a small-bladed knife in the La Defense business district on Saturday.

The 23-year-old victim was in a stable condition after the attack, police said.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22699156