Mosque Attacker Arrested in Italy After Killing Worshipper in Southern France
A 20-year-old man suspected of stabbing a worshipper to death in a mosque in southern France has been arrested in Italy, according to reports from The Times. The suspect, identified as Olivier A, handed himself in to a police station in Pistoia, near Florence, after a three-day manhunt.
The killing, which took place in the small town of La Grand Combe in the Cévennes hills north of Nîmes, shocked French Muslims and prompted President Emmanuel Macron to condemn Islamophobic crime. The victim, Aboubakar Cissé, a 22-year-old mason who had immigrated from Mali, was stabbed over 40 times in the mosque.
According to The Times, the mosque’s CCTV showed the attacker entering the mosque early on Friday morning and talking to Cissé, who was alone and tidying up before Friday prayers. When Cissé knelt to pray, the suspect attacked him with a long knife, inflicting more than 40 wounds. He then filmed the man dying while denigrating Islam.
The interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, congratulated the prosecutor and police for the successful conclusion of an investigation that involved 75 officers. He described the suspect as "extremely dangerous" due to his claims in a gruesome video posted on social media that he hated Muslims and aimed to become a serial killer.
The murder has rocked La Grand Combe, one of France’s poorest towns, whose 5,000-strong population is dominated by the descendants of Muslim immigrants drawn to settle there by coal mines. Cissé, who had recently qualified as a mason, was described as a hard-working pillar of the local congregation.
In a post on X, President Macron expressed his condolences and offered his support to "our fellow Muslim citizens". He added: "Racism and hatred based on religion can have no place in France. Freedom of worship cannot be violated."
François Bayrou, the prime minister, had already denounced what he described as an "Islamophobic atrocity". He said: "We stand with the victim’s loved ones, with the believers who are so shocked."
Muslim leaders deplored what they said was a failure by the authorities to grasp the degree of hatred and violence that confronts their community. Anti-racism campaigners have criticised the government for failing to react with the outrage that it applies to murders committed by Muslims.
The French Council of the Muslim Faith said it was "horrified" by the "anti-Muslim terrorist attack" and urged Muslims in France to be "extremely vigilant". The Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France said: "The murder of a worshipper in a mosque is a despicable crime that must revolt the hearts of all French people."
Abdelkrim Grini, the prosecutor at Alès, the nearest large town, said he was investigating on the assumption that the killing was a hate crime. The alleged attacker was said by police to be a video game enthusiast who lived off the state’s minimum welfare benefit and had no connection with the mosque or Islam.
Identified only as Olivier, he was born in France in 2004 and is unemployed without a criminal record. Grini said he was "extremely dangerous" and it was "essential" that he was arrested before he claimed more victims.
According to The Times, the suspect filmed Cissé, the victim, as he was dying with over 40 knife wounds in the mosque. Olivier A, the suspect, had no prior record but his social media posts showed a disturbing trend of hatred towards Muslims.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation, with many leaders calling for increased vigilance and action against Islamophobia. The French government has faced criticism for its handling of hate crimes against Muslims, with some accusing them of not doing enough to prevent such attacks.
Residents of the town attended a march in memory of Aboubakar Cissé, with Macron saying after the attack that there was "no place for racism" in France. As the investigation continues, the community remains on edge, hoping for justice and an end to the hate crimes that have plagued them.
In related news, there have been reports of young Muslims fleeing France to escape what they describe as an "atmosphere of hate". Additionally, armed guards have been stationed at French schools following terror threats linked to a headscarf row.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the growing concern of Islamophobia in France and the need for greater efforts to promote tolerance and understanding. As the country continues to grapple with this issue, one thing is clear: the killing of Aboubakar Cissé will not be forgotten, and those responsible will face the full weight of the law.
For more information on this story and related articles visit The Times.
