Molex worker from Lisle recovering after attack in France

Molex Inc. said Thursday an executive from its Lisle headquarters is recovering after being attacked outside the company's plant in France.

The plant in Willemur-sur-Tarn, France, was immediately closed after the attack on Tuesday and will remain closed until the company can make its work force and plant more secure, said spokeswoman Susan Armitage.

The maker of electronic components said it was working on a plan to close the plant around October and bring the work to the United States.

"Molex does not accept any excuse that would justify a physical attack on anyone on our premises other than in a situation involving self-defense," said Armitage. "That was not the situation here. We consider this an unprovoked attack on a member of a team working to negotiate a social plan related to the proposed closure of the site."

On Tuesday, an employee and two security guards were injured after being attacked by what the company described as a group of about 40 people that included members of the local Works Council and union. The injured employee, Director of Business Development Eric Doesburg, was seen by medical professionals in France and released. Armitage declined to release the types of injuries that Doesburg sustained, citing privacy reasons.

Doesburg said in a statement that the incident happened as he was leaving the plant late in the day.

"We knew there was a threat of violence, so we had contacted the local police earlier in the day to request their assistance," Doesburg said. "Members of our French security firm, who were also physically attacked, then made repeated calls to both the local and national police for help but no one responded. We are outraged by both the behavior of the individuals involved in the violent actions and by the lack of response by the police who we called for help."

Molex, which has 25,000 workers worldwide, has about 300 employees at this site in France.

Armitage said the plant also was damaged during the incident, but a cost estimate was unavailable.