Knifeman appears in public for first time since rampage in French playground

A knifeman who wounded six people including a three-year-old British girl in France has appeared in public for the first time since the attack.

Abdelmasih Hanoun, a self-styled Syrian-Christian, was taken from a secure police station in Annecy to the city’s Palais de Justice in a medical chair surrounded by officers.

The 31-year-old was set to appear before a judge to be charged in connection with Thursday’s attacks.

An investigation source told the Mirror: “Hanoun left the commissariat soon after 10am [9am BST], with four officers carrying his chair.

“The chair is a medical one normally used by firemen to take injured people out of burning buildings.”

Read More: British girl, 3, stabbed in French park attack named for first time

Don’t miss…
Putin says Russian tactical nuclear weapons to be deployed to Belarus next month[LATEST]
16-year-old girl dies attempting TikTok ‘scarf game’ challenge[LATEST]
Britain is at risk of attacks just like the one in France[INSIGHT ]

Hanoun, who appeared to be barely conscious, was wounded by police following the attack, which saw him stab four young children and two adults.

Video footage showed him saying the words “In the name of Jesus Christ” twice in English as he carried out the attack.

Among the injured was three-year-old British girl Ettie who was visting the country on holiday.

All the victims were reported to be in a stable condition on Saturday morning, with Ettie able to watch television.

The other children injured in the attack included two-year-old French cousins named Ennio and Alba and a 22-month-old Dutch boy called Peter.

The adults who were injured were Manuel, aged 70, and 78-year-old Yusuf, who was also hit by a police bullet in error.

Hanoun, a failed asylum seeker facing deportation, was sleeping rough in Annecy before the attack.

Line Bonnet-Mathis, the Annecy Prosecutor who is leading the investigation, confirmed Hanoun “will appear before a judge on Saturday”.

He is reported to have been “having tantrums” in custody and has so far not provided any motive for the attacks.

Hanoun was refused asylum in France six days ago and faced being removed from the country.

There had been no immediate efforts to deport him or to monitor his movements.

Gérald Darmanin, France’s Interior Minister, said this was a “troubling coincidence”, adding: “For reasons not well explained he had sought asylum in Switzerland, Italy and France.”

Hanoun arrived in Sweden 10 years ago, having served in the Syrian Army during the country’s ongoing civil war.

He married a Swedish woman he had met in Turkey, and they went on to have a daughter, now aged three, before the couple separated around eight months ago.

Hanoun was twice refused Swedish citizenship which may have motivated him to move to France.

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Source: Read Full Article