A 69-year-old man who stepped in to help during a knife attack on police officers, in which the attacker shouted “Allahu Akbar,” has died in eastern France.
The incident, which took place in the city of Mulhouse during a demonstration in support of the Congo on Saturday afternoon, left two police officers seriously injured in what authorities are calling a suspected Islamist terrorist act. Three other officers sustained minor injuries.
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the attack, stating it was “without any doubt an act of Islamist terrorism.” Authorities have arrested the suspected attacker, an Algerian man who was already on a terror prevention watchlist, according to France’s anti-terrorism prosecution office (PNAT).
Union sources revealed that the suspect had been under judicial supervision and house arrest and was also subject to an expulsion order from France.
According to PNAT, the attack occurred shortly before 4 p.m. when the suspect lunged at local police officers while shouting “God is greatest” in Arabic. Witnesses confirmed to Agence France-Presse that he repeated the phrase multiple times.
Deadly Knife Attack in France
One of the seriously injured officers sustained a wound to the carotid artery, while the other suffered an injury to the thorax.
The civilian who attempted to intervene, identified as a Portuguese national, was fatally wounded, PNAT confirmed.
Investigation and Response
French municipal police officers were seen collecting evidence at the scene, which was cordoned off as forensic teams searched for clues. Military reinforcements were also deployed to the area.
Mulhouse mayor Michèle Lutz described the attack as an act of terror but noted that “this must obviously still be confirmed by the judiciary.” She expressed her sorrow, stating on Facebook: “Horror has seized our city.”
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau is expected to visit the attack site on Saturday evening.
President Macron reiterated the government’s commitment to fighting terrorism, stating that authorities would continue doing “everything to eradicate terrorism on our soil.” He also expressed the “solidarity of the nation” with the victim and his family.
France’s Terror Prevention System
The attacker was listed in France’s terror prevention database, which compiles information from various authorities to monitor and prevent radicalization. The system was introduced in 2015 following the deadly attacks on the offices of Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish supermarket.
