Knifeman hunted after fatal stabbing at mosque in south of France
It is feared the killer could strike again
‘This is a real manhunt,’ said the Alès state prosecutor, as police track La Grand-Combe killer (pictured Alès court)
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A man is on the run after fatally stabbing a worshipper at a mosque in Gard in the south of France, on Friday morning (April 25). The public prosecutor fears he may strike again.
The attack occurred around 08:30 when the victim, identified as 23-24-year-old Aboubakar, from Mali, was praying inside the Khadidja mosque in La Grand-Combe.
The suspect, identified by newspaper Le Parisien as 21 year old Olivier H. stabbed Aboubakar multiple times - reports suggest 40 to 50 knife wounds - before fleeing.
The body was discovered several hours later by worshippers arriving for Friday prayers.
Suspected Islamophobic attack
The suspect filmed the crime on his phone, showing himself taunting the victim with offensive remarks about Islam.
The video was reportedly sent to a third party and shared on Snapchat. It has since been deleted.
In the footage, the suspect swears about "Allah" while standing over his victim.
Realising he was probably caught by the mosque’s security cameras, the killer added, “I am going to be arrested, for sure.”
The attack has shocked the local community, with Abdelkrim Grini, public prosecutor in Alès, stating that "all avenues are being explored", including a Islamophobic motive.
The national anti-terrorist prosecutor is assessing the case.
Suspect remains at large.
Mr Grini, stated that the search for the killer is ongoing and that the case is being treated as very serious. The suspect has no prior criminal record and is unknown to police and judicial authorities.
“This is a real manhunt,” he said, adding that the suspect is "potentially extremely dangerous".
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau expressed his condolences to the victim’s family and solidarity with the Muslim community.
