The case is definitively closed.

A dismissal has just been made in the attack on the Bayonne mosque against a background of anti-Muslim racism, a year and a half ago, the Bayonne public prosecutor's office announced on Wednesday.

Two men had been seriously injured by an octogenarian who has since died.

The investigating judge of the Pau Court of Appeal in charge of the case signed the dismissal order on Tuesday, the prosecution said.

Last month, the public prosecutor Jérôme Bourrier, issued an indictment of dismissal for the termination of the public action.

"The indicted person having died and the judicial information having revealed no complicity", impossible to go further, summed up the prosecutor.

No complicity

The outcome of the case was predictable since the death in prison, in February 2020, of Claude Sinké, the alleged 84-year-old assailant who opened fire and injured two worshipers before attempting to burn down the mosque, on October 28, 2019. The prospect of a trial was fading, especially since the investigation did not show that he had benefited from any complicity.

The victims' lawyers had unsuccessfully pleaded for the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office (Pnat) to take up the case.

At the time of the indictment of dismissal, the lawyer of a victim, Amar Kariouh, had mentioned "a double sentence for the victims.

The first is that the Pnat should have seized and the second is that, ultimately, there will be no justice, ”said Mehana Mouhou.

He wanted "to avenge the fire at Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral"

Claude Sinké, former candidate of the National Front in departmental elections, subsequently removed from the party, explained to investigators having wanted "to avenge the fire at Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral", which he attributed "to Muslims".

The lawyer deplored that the investigations were "always limited" to Claude Sinké presented as a "lone wolf", and had seen in the non-referral of the Pnat a "refusal to investigate extremist circles".

Justice

Bayonne mosque attack: The investigation is moving towards a dismissal

Miscellaneous

Bayonne mosque attack: suspected gunman died in prison

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