Four individuals were taken into custody on Sunday following a fatal stabbing incident in eastern France that authorities are attributing to Islamic extremism, as confirmed by the national anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office.
During the attack that occurred on Saturday in Mulhouse, which is located close to the German border, a Portuguese man lost his life. In addition, seven police officers sustained injuries, with one parking control agent hospitalized in serious condition, according to reports from the prosecutor’s office.
The individuals detained include the primary suspect, a 37-year-old man of Algerian descent identified as Brahim A. The interior minister described him as an individual with a profile indicative of Islamic extremism and schizophrenia. Alongside the suspect, two family members and a person who had provided him shelter were also taken into custody, as reported by the prosecutor’s office.
French President Emmanuel Macron responded to the attack by expressing the government’s firm resolve to address the situation, holding “Islamist terrorism” responsible for the incident. The nation has remained vigilant in the face of potential extremist threats.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the suspect repeatedly shouted “Allahu akbar”—translated as “God is great” in Arabic—during the stabbing. He was reportedly wielding a knife and a screwdriver at the time.
The suspect had entered France illegally in 2014 and had a prior history of arrests, including one for glorifying terrorism in connection with the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau shared details with reporters, stating that experts in law enforcement had noted the suspect’s schizophrenic tendencies.
After spending time in prison for his previous conviction, the suspect was placed under house arrest while authorities attempted to deport him back to Algeria. Retailleau criticized Algeria for its refusal to accept the return of individuals that France is trying to expel.
In response to the violent incident, the French government has scheduled a special meeting for Wednesday to discuss immigration policies. Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced this strategy, emphasizing a review of 19 countries from which repatriating undocumented individuals has proven challenging during an interview on Europe-1 radio.
