The investigation into the assassination of Samuel Paty is progressing.

Seven people, including two minors, were referred, Wednesday, October 21, to be presented to an anti-terrorism judge, with a view to opening a judicial investigation and possible indictments after the assassination of Professor Samuel Paty, AFP learned from a judicial source and Reuters, from the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office.

Among them is Brahim C., the student's parent who launched the mobilization against the teacher after two courses on freedom of expression given by Samuel Paty, on October 5 and 6, in his college in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, in the Yvelines. 

Anti-terrorism investigators, who are looking for possible complicity, are particularly interested in messages exchanged on WhatsApp between this father and the assailant, Abdoullakh Anzorov, an 18-year-old refugee of Chechen origin. 

Islamist activist Abdelhakim Sefrioui facing the judge 

The sulphurous Islamist activist Abdelhakim Sefrioui, who had accompanied this parent of a student in his mobilization, will also be presented to a judge on Wednesday.

Also referred, two minors are suspected of having received money from the assailant in exchange for information on the victim.

>> To read also: Homage to Samuel Paty: "This attack only redoubled my desire to teach!"

A source close to the matter had explained to AFP that the decapitated teacher had been "appointed" to the attacker "by one or more schoolchildren, a priori against remuneration".

Finally, three friends of the assailant, who had spontaneously surrendered to the Evreux police station on Friday evening, must also be presented to a judge. 

According to a source close to the file, one of them is suspected of having escorted the assailant, while another is suspected of having accompanied him during the purchase of a weapon which was used during his attack.

Nine other people released

Three minors who were among the sixteen people in custody were released, said a spokesperson for the national anti-terrorism prosecution.

Earlier in the evening, police custody of six people had been lifted. 

Among these nine people taken into custody are three schoolchildren, the parents, the grandfather and the little brother of the alleged murderer, but also the companion of Abdelhakim Sefrioui as well as a man already convicted of terrorism and who was in contact with the attacker.

Around 5 p.m. on Friday, Abdoullakh Anzorov beheaded Samuel Paty, a history and geography professor, near the college where he taught in a quiet area of ​​Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, before being killed nine times by police in 200 meters away.

This professor had recently shown caricatures of Muhammad to his 4th year students as part of a course on freedom of expression.

A press conference will be held this Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. by the anti-terrorism prosecutor François Ricard.

With AFP and Reuters

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