Four female Boston College students attacked with acid in France

Sept. 17 (UPI) -- Four Boston College women studying abroad were attacked with acid in the main train station in Marseille, France, on Sunday.

Shortly after 11 a.m. at the St. Charles station, an unidentified 41-year-old woman sprayed the women, all 20 or 21, with hydrochloric acid, the French newspaper La Provence reported.

Two of the college students, who were traveling between Marseille and Paris, were hit in the face and the other two also were taken to Hopital de la Timone with shock. They were later released from the hospital.

The women were plan to graduate in 2019, according to a report by The Heights, the independent Boston College newspaper.

Courtney Siverling, Charlotte Kaufman and Michelle Krug are enrolled in BC's Paris program, and Kelsey Kosten is a student at the Copenhagen Business School in Denmark, according to Boston College.

"It appears that the students are fine, considering the circumstances, though they may require additional treatment for burns," said Nick Gozik, director of BC's Office of International Programs. "We have been in contact with the students and their parents and remain in touch with French officials and the U.S. Embassy regarding the incident."

The suspect was arrested and detained by the police minutes after the attack, a police spokeswoman said. Police said the woman is believed to be psychologically disturbed and she did not know the victims.

The acid reportedly was in a spray canister generally used for cleaning.

"It was a horrific scene," a witness, who declined to be named, told The Telegraph. "The Americans were screaming and people started rushing about. No one knew what was happening and these days everyone is on edge because of terrorism."

Last month, a woman was killed in Marseille when a man deliberately drove a vehicle into two bus stops. Police said the attack was not terror-related.