France: People outside school where attack took place express shock

Mourners marched on Saturday near the school of a teacher who was beheaded by an 18-year-old man near Paris.

The march was held as France's anti-terrorism prosecutor's office said authorities investigating the killing of Samuel Paty in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine on Friday arrested nine suspects, including the teen's grandfather, parents and 17-year-old brother.

A pupil of Paty's was among those who took part in the march.

He recalled his history teacher as being "kind" and "nice" to himself and his peers in an interview with British broadcaster Sky News.

A police official said the teenager suspected of killing Paty was was shot dead about 600 meters (yards) from where the teacher died.

He was a Chechen refugee unknown to intelligence services.

Paty had discussed caricatures of Islam's Prophet Muhammad with his class, leading to threats, police officials said.

Islam prohibits images of the prophet, asserting that they lead to idolatry.

French anti-terrorism prosecutor Jean-Francois Ricard said an investigation for murder with a suspected terrorist motive had been opened.