Decapitated professor in the Paris region: what we know about the terrorist attack
The college of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, north-west of Paris, where the victim practiced, on October 16, 2020. REUTERS / Charles Platiau
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3 min
Three weeks after the chopper attack in front of the former premises of "Charlie Hebdo" in Paris, a history and geography teacher, who during a course had recently shown caricatures of Muhammad to his students, was beheaded, Friday October 16, in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, in the Paris region.
The assailant was shot.
An investigation was opened by the anti-terrorism prosecution.
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What do we know about the course of the attack?
The attack
occurred around 5 p.m. French time, near the college of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine (Yvelines) where the decapitated professor was working.
The man, in possession of a knife, was later shot dead by the police in the nearby town of Éragny (Val-d'Oise).
Just before, he would have shouted "Allah Akbar".
A message posted on Twitter from a now closed account shows a photo of the victim's head.
Its author indicates wanting to avenge "the
one who dared to belittle Muhammad
".
But at this time, it is not certain that this message comes from the attacker.
Where is the investigation?
The author of the attack would be a young man of Chechen origin born in Moscow in 2002, according to an identity card found on him.
Nine people, including a minor and two parents of students, were taken into police custody overnight from Friday to Saturday.
The others are family members of the assailant and members of his entourage.
The national anti-terrorism prosecution has opened an investigation for “murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise” and “criminal terrorist association”.
What do we know about the victim?
The victim, aged about forty, was a professor of history and geography, and therefore in charge of moral and civic education.
As part of a course on freedom of speech and the press, he reportedly showed caricatures of Muhammad last week to a grade 4 class, to children around 13 years old.
One or more parents would have complained to the educational team.
A parent would also have posted a video on social networks where he relates these facts.
Read also: A history teacher who showed the caricatures of Mohammed in class beheaded near Paris
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