The identity of the author of the knife attack in Annecy (Savoie) was quickly revealed. Here’s what we know about Abdalmasih H.
Over the hours following the knife attack perpetrated in Annecy (Savoie) which injured several children this Thursday, June 8, 2023 in a park, the profile of the suspect is revealed, according to the elements collected by various media. Enough to bring to light the identity of Abdalmasih H. and part of his career, even if many questions still remain unanswered. The man was arrested and the investigation entrusted to the anti-terrorist sub-directorate.
He lived for 10 years in Sweden
The perpetrator of the knife attack is a 31-year-old man, born in 1991, who had been living in Sweden since 2013. He had obtained refugee status in this country on April 26, 2023, specifies The Parisian, a few months after taking steps (in November 2022) to obtain asylum in France. His refugee status is an important factor since it granted him free movement in the Schengen area. Thus, the man entered French territory completely legally. He was, until today, unknown to the police and justice services of France. It was his identity document, found on him during his arrest, which made it possible to identify him.
“Christian of Syria”, married and father of a family
On the personal side, the suspect had declared himself “Christian of Syria” at the time of his asylum application, advance France info who also adds that the man was wearing a cross at the time of his arrest. On his side, The Parisian indicates that the individual was married to a Swedish woman. A union during which would have been born a child, today aged three years.
Whole days spent in the park
The personality of the individual takes shape little by little over the testimonies. An employee who worked near the park told the Dauphine Libere that “this guy has been coming to sit on a bench every day for two months” and above all, “all day” according to him, in all weathers, in a simple outfit, all in black. “He did not speak”, or little, never vehement or vindictive according to this witness. If he was “muttering under his breath,” the man was “not aggressive.” Described as a homeless person by all, Abdalmasih H. did not seem to show any signs suggesting such an act.
Witnesses say man was targeting children
At the time of the attack, the man was wearing a turban. A short video, posted on Twitter, shows him wandering the park, knife in hand. He was quickly subdued and arrested by the police on the spot. For now, the circumstances and motivations of this attack remain unclear. At the time of the attack, the assailant was “obviously” targeting the children according to witnesses at the scene, questioned by France Blue. Other testimonies describe the individual as a marginal man who “has been wandering for several days around the lake”. He is said to live on the streets and was seen bathing in the lake.
According to several other people interviewed by BFM TV, Abdalmasih H. “jumped up, started screaming, went straight to the stroller and started stabbing repeatedly.” A witness says that “he was clearly attacking the babies because there were several adults around. He did not hit the grandmother who was trying to struggle with her bag.” But “when he saw that he was surrounded by the police, he walked towards a couple and stabbed the lady’s husband,” said the same witness.