Canada arrests dentist wanted for mutilating patients in France

A fugitive Dutch dentist accused of mutilating dozens of French patients has been arrested in Canada following an international manhunt.

Mark Van Nierop has been sought under an international arrest warrant since February for "intentional violence causing permanent mutilation".

He was arrested this week in the small town of Nackawic, New Brunswick. It is not yet known how he was found. French prosecutors said on Thursday they would seek his extradition.

Unconfirmed reports in Canadian media said Van Nierop tried to commit suicide by slitting his throat at the time of his arrest.

Van Nierop began practising in the remote rural area of Chateau-Chinon in central France in 2008, and was initially welcomed by locals who were sorely lacking in medical services.

But concerns soon started to mount about Van Nierop as patients reported bits of broken tools in their gums, recurrent abscesses, septicemia, broken jaws, and healthy teeth being pulled out, reported.