A knife attack in Mulhouse, eastern France, left one civilian dead and multiple police officers injured on Saturday. The suspect, a 37-year-old man on a terror prevention watchlist, was arrested. French President Emmanuel Macron called the incident an “Islamist terror act” and vowed to continue the fight against terrorism.
Suspect Was Under Surveillance
Authorities confirmed that the attacker had been under judicial supervision, house arrest, and was facing an expulsion order from France. He was on the FSPRT watchlist, which tracks individuals at risk of radicalization.
Details of the Attack
According to officials, the attack took place around 4:00 pm (1500 GMT) during a public demonstration. The suspect first targeted municipal police officers while shouting “Allahu Akbar.” A 69-year-old Portuguese civilian who tried to intervene was fatally stabbed.
In total, five police officers were injured, two of them seriously. One suffered a carotid artery wound, while another sustained an injury to the chest.
Macron Condemns the Act as Terrorism
President Macron, speaking during a visit to France’s agriculture fair, declared that there was “no doubt” the attack was an act of Islamist terrorism. He assured that France would continue its efforts to eliminate terrorism.
Prime Minister Francois Bayrou also reacted, stating, “Fanaticism has struck again, and we are in mourning.”
Investigation Underway
France’s national anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office (PNAT) has taken over the case, investigating it as murder and attempted murder linked to a terrorist enterprise. Authorities have established a security perimeter at the crime scene, with military units providing backup.
Mulhouse Mayor Michele Lutz expressed her shock, stating, “Horror has seized our city.” She added that while the incident is being investigated as a terror attack, the final determination rests with the judiciary.
As France grapples with this latest act of violence, security measures in the region have been intensified.
