Four individuals have been apprehended following a violent knife attack in Mulhouse, eastern France, that has been associated with Islamic extremism. Among those in custody is a 37-year-old Algerian man named Brahim A, who is suspected of carrying out the attack at a local market close to the German border on Saturday afternoon.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau described the suspect as having an Islamic extremist leaning and suffering from schizophrenia. He had been previously arrested and convicted for glorifying terrorism in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. The suspect served time in prison and was later placed under house arrest while authorities attempted to deport him to Algeria. However, Retailleau criticized Algeria for not cooperating with French efforts to repatriate the suspect.

During the attack, the suspect was reportedly armed with a knife and a screwdriver and repeatedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” (“God is greatest”). A Portuguese civilian who tried to intervene was killed, and seven police officers, including a parking control agent with serious injuries, were wounded.

The prosecutor’s office confirmed the detention of two family members and one person who lived with the suspect. According to reports, the attacker was supposed to report to the police station to sign a document related to his detention but fled and initiated the attack in the market.

French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the government is determined to address the mass stabbing, attributing it to “Islamist terrorism.” In response to the incident, the French government plans to hold a special meeting on Wednesday to discuss immigration policies, as announced by Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.

Source: https://news.sky.com/story/france-fatal-knife-attack-suspect-is-islamist-extremist-with-conviction-for-glorifying-terrorism-says-minister-13315508