Four individuals have been taken into custody following a lethal stabbing incident in eastern France, which officials have associated with Islamic extremism, according to statements from the national anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office.
The attack occurred on Saturday in Mulhouse, a city located near the German border, resulting in the death of a Portuguese man. The incident also left seven police officers injured, with one parking control officer sustaining serious injuries that required hospitalization, as reported by the prosecutor’s office.
Among those detained is the primary suspect, a 37-year-old Algerian man named Brahim A., who has been described by the interior minister as an individual with ties to Islamic extremism and a history of schizophrenia. Alongside him, two relatives and a person who provided him shelter were also apprehended, according to the prosecutor’s office.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed the government’s unwavering commitment to addressing the incident, attributing it to “Islamist terrorism.” France is currently on high alert regarding potential extremist threats.
During the assault, the suspect reportedly shouted “Allahu akbar” — which means “God is great” in Arabic. He was armed with a knife and a screwdriver at the time of the attack, according to prosecutorial reports.
The suspect arrived in France without proper documentation in 2014 and faced arrest and prosecution for glorifying terrorism following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau stated that police experts had identified signs of schizophrenia in the suspect during that period.
After serving several months in prison for his conviction, the individual was placed under house arrest while authorities attempted to deport him back to Algeria. Retailleau criticized the Algerian government for its reluctance to accept the return of individuals France seeks to deport.
In light of this recent attack, the French government has planned a special meeting for Wednesday to discuss immigration issues. Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced that the meeting will focus on 19 countries from which France faces challenges in returning undocumented individuals, as he addressed the matter on Europe-1 radio.
