France Stabbing: 1 Dead, 2 Cops Injured in Knife Attack; Macron Vows to Eradicate 'Islamic Terrorism'

Mulhouse: At least one person was killed and three others, including two police officers, were critically injured following a brutal knife attack in Mulhouse, France, on Saturday.

The attack occurred in Mulhouse, a city that borders Germany and Switzerland.

Three other police officers were also lightly wounded in the incident, which took place around 4:00 p.m. local time. French President Emmanuel Macron has described the attack as an "Islamist terror act."

“It is without any doubt an act of Islamist terrorism,” said Macron.
 

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The suspect, a 37-year-old Algerian man, has been arrested and was reportedly on a terror prevention watchlist.

The FSPRT list, launched in 2015, compiles data from various authorities to prevent "terrorist" radicalization.

According to investigators, the suspect, armed with a knife and screwdriver, shouted “Allahu Akbar” (God is Greatest) before launching the attack.

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According to an AP report, the suspect arrived in France without papers in 2014, was arrested, and convicted of glorifying terrorism in the wake of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. Police experts had “detected a schizophrenic profile” in the suspect.

After several months in prison for that conviction, the suspect was placed under house arrest while authorities sought to expel him to Algeria.

Authorities are working to determine the motive behind the attack and any potential links to extremist groups.

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A passerby, a 69-year-old Portuguese national, who intervened was killed in the attack. One of the injured officers sustained a wound to the carotid artery, while the other was wounded in the thorax.

Authorities are working to determine the motive behind the attack and any potential links to extremist groups.

Macron's Reaction

Macron expressed his condolences to the victim’s family and vowed to eradicate terrorism from French soil.

The French President confirmed that he had spoken with the Minister of the Interior, who provided initial details about the attack. Macron said the government has “complete determination” to respond to the attack, which he blamed on “Islamist terrorism.” 

"This terrorist act, which leaves no doubt that it is an Islamist terrorist act, given the expression of the terrorist, reaffirms the nation’s determination. I would like to reiterate the nation’s solidarity with the family, and the government's and my own determination to continue the work we have been doing for the past eight years to eradicate terrorism on our soil," he said.

Mulhouse Mayor Michèle Lutz took to Facebook to express her condolences, saying, "Horror has seized our city." She noted that the incident is being investigated as a terror attack, but added, "This must obviously still be confirmed by the judiciary."

Prime Minister François Bayrou said that "fanaticism has struck again, and we are in mourning."

(Inputs from AP)