The father, who was indignant at the course taught by Samuel Paty on freedom of expression, exchanged messages with the assailant in the days leading up to the attack, a source familiar with the matter revealed on Tuesday, October 20. .

These exchanges took place on WhatsApp messaging, added this close source, confirming information from BFMTV, without giving details on their content.

The father of the schoolgirl had given his phone number on Facebook in a message accompanying a video broadcast on October 8, in which he called for mobilization against Samuel Paty, after a course on the cartoons of Muhammad which, he said, had assisted his daughter.

The latter, in 4th grade, was indeed part of a class in which Samuel Paty gave a course on freedom of expression on October 6, but she was absent that day, according to a source familiar with the matter.

In custody

On October 12, he posted a new video on YouTube targeting the teacher, where he was seen in the company of Islamist activist Abdelhakim Sefrioui.

The two men were in custody Tuesday afternoon in this anti-terrorism investigation, with 14 other people including five college students.

In addition, the closure of the mosque of Pantin (Seine-Saint-Denis), ordered by Gérald Darmanin for having notably relayed a video denouncing the course of Samuel Paty, will be effective Wednesday evening, we learned from concordant sources.

"The deadline for the closure is 48 hours, so the mosque will be closed Wednesday evening," a source close to the matter told AFP, information confirmed by the entourage of the Minister of the Interior.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announced Monday evening on TF1 to have "asked the prefect of Seine-Saint-Denis to close the Pantin mosque", located in the northern suburbs of Paris.

The establishment will be closed for a period of six months, and the closure notification was sent on Monday evening, said the first source.

Conflans attack: Macron goes to the Bobigny prefecture

02:20

The tribute of the deputies

Gathered on the steps of the Palais Bourbon, all the deputies, wearing their tricolor scarf and mask on their faces, observed a minute of silence on Tuesday in tribute to Professor Samuel Paty.

From the far left with Jean-Luc Mélenchon, to the far right with Marine Le Pen, the entire political spectrum was represented.

The United National Representation, standing and resolute to fight the claimed enemies of democracy, reason and the Enlightenment.



Homage to Samuel Paty, cowardly murdered because he developed the critical spirit of our children.



Freedom.

Equality.

Fraternity.

pic.twitter.com/vdZZO2yTX9

- Richard Ferrand (@RichardFerrand) October 20, 2020

A new minute of silence was also observed in the hemicycle at 3 p.m. for deputies and government, at the start of the session.

The National Assembly observes a minute of silence in tribute to Samuel Paty

04:38

Samuel Paty, will receive the Legion of Honor posthumously, also announced Jean-Michel Blanquer, adding that a minute of silence and an "educational sequence" will take place on November 2 in all establishments "without exception".

"The legion of honor will be awarded to him posthumously and he will be made commander of the academic palms, it is emblematic because it is the order that goes with the teachers and the world of education, and the martyr of Samuel Paty is well worth this recognition of his institution ", announced the Minister of National Education in an interview.

President Emmanuel Macron has chosen the courtyard of the Sorbonne, a symbolic place of the spirit of the Enlightenment and of teaching, as the place of the national tribute which will be paid to Samuel Paty, Wednesday, at 7:30 p.m.

With AFP

The summary of the week

France 24 invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you!

Download the France 24 application

google-play-badge_FR