French President Emmanuel Macron condemned a deadly attack in the city of Mulhouse in eastern France on Saturday, describing it as an “Islamic terrorist act.”
“Following the terrorist attack in Mulhouse, I wanted to express my condolences to the victims’ families and express the solidarity of the entire nation,” Macron said late Saturday. He said there was “no doubt” that the incident was “a terrorist act,” specifically “an Islamic terrorist act.”
The attack took place on Saturday in Mulhouse, in the Alsace region, when a man armed with a knife killed one person and injured several others.
According to the National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT), which has taken charge of the investigation, the attacker is a 37-year-old Algerian-born man who was already on a terrorism watchlist and subject to deportation orders.
PNAT said the suspect first attacked municipal police officers, shouting “Allahu Akbar” (God is greatest). Witnesses later confirmed to AFP that the suspect had shouted the phrase multiple times. A civilian passerby who tried to intervene was fatally wounded. The suspect was arrested at the scene.
Speaking at the police station on Saturday, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said the man had “a schizophrenic profile” and that his act had “a psychiatric dimension.” He noted that France had repeatedly attempted to expel him from the country, but Algeria refused to cooperate.
Macron said that the French government will continue its work “to eradicate terrorism from our soil.”
The post Macron condemns deadly Mulhouse attack as ‘Islamic terrorist act’ appeared first on Politico.
