Death – Obituary – Accident and Crime News : Man Who Stabbed Tourist Near Eiffel Tower Swore Allegiance to Islamic State, Say French Prosecutors
In a shocking incident near the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris, a man stabbed a tourist to death and later swore allegiance to the Islamic State group in a video posted on social media, according to French anti-terrorist prosecutors. The attack, which occurred late Saturday, took place amidst heightened tensions in France due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as well as a series of lone-wolf attacks in the country.
The assailant, a French national born in 1997 to Iranian parents, was already known to authorities for his radicalized Islamist beliefs and had connections to individuals involved in previous attacks in France. He had also been under close psychological surveillance for mental health issues. Senior prosecutor Jean-Francois Ricard revealed that the attacker’s mother had expressed concerns about her son’s behavior as recently as October, but at that time there was insufficient evidence to take legal action.
The attacker killed a 23-year-old German-Filipino citizen with a hammer and a knife, while shouting “Allahu Akbar” (God is greatest). He then fled the scene but was eventually apprehended by a taxi driver and later by police. Two other individuals, a 66-year-old British citizen and a 60-year-old French person, were also injured in the attack.
Investigations have revealed that the attacker had a social media account where he posted about Hamas, Gaza, and Palestine, and also shared a video in Arabic pledging allegiance to the Islamic State and expressing support for jihadists in various countries. The assailant, who converted to Islam at the age of 18, had consumed extensive amounts of Islamic State propaganda and had previously planned to join the group in Iraq or Syria.
The attacker had a history of involvement with individuals linked to extremist activities. He was friends on Facebook with a man who later killed two police officers in their home, and he was also connected to the perpetrator of the 2020 beheading of teacher Samuel Paty.
In response to the incident, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin called for authorities to have the ability to demand compulsory treatment for individuals with mental health issues who are believed to be radicalized. He emphasized that France remains under the long-term threat of radical Islamism and called for a strong penal response to combat it.
France has experienced several attacks by Islamist extremists in recent years, including the 2015 Paris attacks claimed by the Islamic State group. The current tensions in the country, following the conflict between Israel and Hamas, have heightened concerns about potential security threats.
As investigations continue, the assailant and three individuals connected to him are being held in custody. The French government is determined to address the issue of radicalization and ensure the safety of its citizens in the face of ongoing security challenges.