French soldiers attacked with knife outside Jewish community center

NICE, France, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Three French soldiers were attacked while on an anti-terrorism patrol by a man with a knife outside a Jewish community center in the city of Nice, France.

Two of the soldiers were lightly wounded, one in the arm and one in the face. The alleged perpetrator, who reportedly had two knives, was arrested, but two people who were with the suspect fled the scene.

The Jewish community center building houses a Jewish association, Radio Shalom and the Nice Israeli Consistory.

Mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi congratulated the police for its swift response and asked the French government to maintain its military presence in the city for security purposes.

An ongoing investigation has begun as authorities work to determine a motive.

France has been on high alert ever since the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack last month. Counter-terrorism police arrested eight people on Tuesday who are suspected of recruiting local residents to be sent to Syria for terrorist activities.