Paris Orly attack: Drugs and alcohol found in gunman's blood

Blood tests have revealed that the gunman who launched an attempted attack at Paris Orly airport on Saturday was under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

French national Ziyed Ben Belgacem, 39, had an alcohol level of 0.93 grams per litre in his blood, twice the legal limit for driving in France, along with traces of cannabis and cocaine, Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said. Cocaine was also found during a police search of Belgacem's home.

Molins added that the gunman had been flagged as having been "radicalised" during a spell in detention in 2011-2012, reports the Daily Telegraph. His flat was among dozens raided during the aftermath of the November 2015 Paris attacks that killed 130 people.

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Belgacem's father told Europe 1 radio: "My son was never a terrorist. He never attended prayer. He drank. But under the effects of alcohol and cannabis, this is where one ends up."

Belgacem was shot dead on Saturday after holding a pellet gun to a soldier at the airport and reportedly shouting: "I am here to die in the name of Allah... There will be deaths".

A copy of the Koran, matches and a container of petrol were found in a backpack he was carrying.He had also injured a policewoman earlier that morning, shooting her in the face with an air pistol after being stopped for speeding north of Paris.

He abandoned the car, hijacked another vehicle at gunpoint and drove to the airport.

His father revealed he had called and said: "I ask for your forgiveness. I've screwed up with a gendarme [police officer]."

Around 3,000 people were evacuated from Orly airport following Saturday's incident.

Visiting the scene, President Francois Hollande said: "I wish to salute the exceptional courage and the conduct of the security forces who made sure the individual was not able to do harm."

Belgacem's attack took place as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge carried out a two-day official visit of Paris, where they met survivors of the 2015 attacks.