A knife attack in the eastern French city of Mulhouse has left one person dead and five police officers injured.
The attack, which took place on Saturday near a bustling market, was carried out by a 37-year-old Algerian man who was arrested at the scene.
Authorities have opened a terrorism investigation after the suspect reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” (“God is great”) during the attack.
Local prosecutors revealed that the man was on a terrorism watch list and was subject to a deportation order.
Two police officers sustained serious injuries, with one suffering a stab wound to the neck and another to the chest.
A 69-year-old Portuguese man who attempted to intervene was fatally stabbed. Three other officers sustained minor injuries.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed condolences to the victim’s family and stated, “There is no doubt it was an Islamist terrorist attack.”
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eradicating terrorism in France.
Mulhouse Mayor Michèle Lutz described the situation as “horrific”, while Prime Minister François Bayrou posted on X, “Fanaticism has struck again, and we are in mourning.”
A witness, 55-year-old Cemalettin Canak, told Reuters, “I have lived in France for 41 years and never experienced anything like this. It has shocked me a lot. Now, when I go to the market, I will feel a little nervous.”
Following the arrest, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said the suspect had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
He also revealed that France had attempted to deport him 10 times, but Algeria repeatedly refused to accept him.
Retailleau called for a “new balance of power” with Algeria and urged a change in rules governing detention centers. There has been no immediate response from Algerian authorities.
Source-BBC
