Le Drian: Islamic Culture Part of French, Europe History

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian sent on Friday a "message of peace to the Islamic world," following the attack in Nice.

Le Drian said that France is a "country of tolerance", not "contempt or ostracism."

The minister added that "Religion and Islamic culture are part of our French and European history, and we respect them," noting that "Muslims absolutely belong to our national community."

"We cannot accept these campaigns of misinformation and manipulation because they aim to distort the facts and conceal them," the French foreign minister affirmed, referring to the accusations that discriminate against Muslims in France.

He said that "words and deeds have consequences that bind their owners to responsibility" and "France never forgets" without mentioning any particular group or country.

Yesterday, Thursday, French police shot a person in the city of Avignon, in the southeast of the country, and killed him after he threatened passers-by with a weapon.

This came a few hours after a stabbing incident near Notre Dame Church, in Nice, killing 3 people and wounding others, including one case that a woman was beheaded.