Zoom Image
Mourning at the scene of the attack: The attacker was psychiatrically examined
Photo: OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE / AFP
He did not even stop at children in strollers: In France, 31-year-old Abdelmessik H. was remanded in custody for attempted murder after a knife attack. He had injured on Thursday in a park and on a playground in Annecy four toddlers and two adults, some of them life-threatening.
He remained silent about his motive in police custody and in front of the investigating judge, said prosecutor Line Bonnet-Mathis in Annecy. There are still no indications of a terrorist background. The man had been psychiatrically examined, there had been no evidence of delusions.
Previously, the family of the suspect had said that the man suffered from "severe depression". He had always had gloomy thoughts and did not want to leave the house, said his mother, who lives in the United States, citing the man's ex-wife. He is also said to have suffered a severe hysterical attack while in police custody.
Attacker has three-year-old daughter in Sweden – and wore a cross
H. has only been in France for a few months. Previously, the Syrian had lived in Sweden for ten years, Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne had said after the fact. In France, he had no permanent residence. For the European security authorities, the man is an unknown, there is nothing about him. There is also no evidence of psychiatric treatment in the past.
More on the subject
After the knife attack in Annecy: The political appropriation of the crime has long been underwayBy Britta Sandberg, Paris
After knife attack on playground in France: Suspect to be psychiatrically examined
Violent crime in France: At least two small children critically injured in attack in Annecy
In Sweden, according to investigators, H. has a three-year-old daughter. Witnesses testified that he mentioned his daughter, his wife and Jesus Christ during the attack, according to prosecutor Bonnet-Mathis. At the time of the attack, he was carrying a cross and had two Christian images with him. He also had 480 euros in cash and a Swedish driver's license with him and slept in a common room of an apartment building in Annecy.
According to her, all victims are now out of danger. However, the children between the ages of 22 months and 3 years still have to stay in the hospital. French President Emmanuel Macron visited the victims and their families on Friday, while political forces are trying to hijack the crime.
The police had arrested H. in a park by the lake in Annecy after bystanders, including in particular a Catholic pilgrim, stopped the attacker. The pilgrim repeatedly hit the attacker with his backpack, the police finally arrested the man.
apr/AP/dpa/AFP