Nantes attack

French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve says 17 attacks have been thwarted in the country so far this year and he is asking Parliament to extend the state of emergency until July 15.

The French president, François Hollande, has named Bernard Cazeneuve to head the French government as prime minister until a presidential election next May.

A man shot dead by police as he tried to attack a police station Jan. 7 on the first anniversary of the jihadist assault on Charlie Hebdo had a knife and what appeared to be an explosives vest, the government said.

A driver ploughed into a Christmas market in western France Dec. 22, injuring 10 people before stabbing himself, a day after a similar attack in another French city, as authorities played down fears of a terrorist motive.