Suspect in Paris soldier attack captured praying on video

French authorities said anti-terrorist investigators were making progress in a probe into the stabbing of a French soldier, who was released from hospital on Monday.

Reuters/Charles Platiau

The attack on Saturday in a busy underground shopping and transport hub near Paris echoed the brutal killing of another soldier in London, but authorities have not yet established a link between the two cases.

Interior Minister Manuel Valls told French television station Canal+ on Monday that police had "serious leads" on the identity of the attacker, who stabbed French soldier Cédric Cordiez in the neck while he was on patrol with two colleagues.

The attacker, described by police as bearded and around 1.9 metres tall, approached the 23-year-old soldier, stabbed him and then disappeared into a crowd.

Sources close to the investigation said Monday that the suspect was caught praying on video a few minutes prior to the attack and that a plastic bag containing a bottle, a knife and rubbish was found nearby.

Cordiez meanwhile was released from a military hospital on Monday morning and has now rejoined his unit, according to military officials.

The key suspect in the London murder, Michael Adebolajo, was captured on video carrying bloodied knives and a meat cleaver after the attack, saying he had murdered off-duty soldier Lee Rigby because British troops were killing Muslims.