"At this time our thoughts are with the families of the victims," said Chancellor Angela Merkel at the press conference following the European Council meeting in Brussels. The attack clearly illustrates the massive challenge posed by the fight against Islamist terrorism, said the Chancellor.

At least one assailant was involved in the attack on the factory in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, south east of Lyon on Friday. The specialist plant produced gas products for industry. One man was killed and another two injured. The suspected perpetrator was apprehended by police, the search continues for accomplices.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier calls it "an act of terror and fanaticism"

Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed his "deepest sympathies" to the families of victims and condemned "this act of terror and fanaticism in the strongest possible terms". "We stand united with France in defending our free society against the blind hatred of terror," he declared in Berlin.

Following the attack, Federal Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière assured France of Germany’s solidarity. "Our thoughts are with our French friends," said Thomas de Maizière on Friday at the close of a conference of the interior ministers of the federal and state governments in Mainz.

For Germany, Thomas de Maizière spoke of a "serious threat level". There is "no reason to assume the danger is over". He cannot give the German people "any guarantee that there will not be a similar attack in Germany," he said. But the security authorities are doing everything in their power to prevent any such scenario.