Story highlights Police says suspect arrested

CNN affiliate says man worked at the retirement home years ago

(CNN) A man suspected of carrying out a knife attack at a French retirement home for priests that left one person dead has been arrested, the Hérault region military police said.

The man was arrested Friday evening in Saint-Mathieu-de-Tréviers, a town about 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the retirement home.

CNN affiliate BFMTV reported the suspect is a 42-year-old former paratrooper and father of two. He had worked at the retirement home many years ago, BFMTV reported.

A 15-year-old pointed out the suspect to the authorities, after noticing he hid away anytime the police helicopter came around, BFMTV said.

Montpellier prosecutor Christophe Barret told reporters that police had been called to the Maison des Chênes Verts in Montferrier-sur-Lez, near the city of Montpellier in the greater French province of Lyon, at 10:45 p.m. Thursday.

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