On Saturday, February 22, a knife attack occurred in the eastern French city of Mulhouse, resulting in 1 death and 5 police officers injured.
The attack took place during a demonstration in support of the Congo, leading to chaos at the scene. Police quickly closed off the area and established a tight security perimeter.
The assailant, while carrying out the knife attack, repeatedly shouted “Allah u Akbar” and targeted pedestrians and on-duty police officers. Two police officers were seriously injured, while three others suffered minor injuries. Tragically, a 69-year-old Portuguese man who intervened to help lost his life.
According to local prosecutor Nicolas Heitz, the suspect is a 37-year-old Algerian man who has been arrested by the police.
Heitz revealed that the suspect was previously on the “French prevention of terrorism radicalization watchlist” (FSPRT). The list was established in 2015 after deadly attacks on the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish supermarket, with the aim of preventing similar terrorist incidents.
The prosecutor further stated that one of the critically injured police officers suffered damage to the neck artery, while another had injuries to the chest.
Union sources disclosed that the suspect was born in Algeria and had been under judicial supervision and house arrest, with a deportation order issued by France.
French President Emmanuel Macron, during an agricultural fair, stated that the attack was “undoubtedly” an act of terrorism, specifically “Islamic terrorism,” emphasizing the government’s commitment to eradicate terrorism within the country.
Mayor Michele Lutz of Mulhouse expressed on social media, “Terror has engulfed our city.” She added that the case is currently being investigated as a terrorist attack, but the final determination awaits confirmation by the judiciary.
The French National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) has announced that they have taken over the investigation and are examining the suspect for charges including murder and attempted murder.
This information is based on reports from Radio France and Agence France-Presse (AFP).