Syrian refugee who stabbed British youngster and 5 others in Annecy knife assault was denied asylum in France

A Syrian refugee who stabbed six folks, together with 4 younger kids in Annecy, southeast France, was denied asylum within the nation final month.

The suspect, who has been named as Abdalmasih H by French media, had his asylum request rejected as a result of he has held refugee standing in Sweden for the previous 10 years.

French authorities rejected the request on 26 April however the suspect solely realized of the choice on 4 June, French broadcaster BFMTV mentioned.

The 31-year-old was arrested in reference to the assault at a lakeside park through which 4 kids – two aged two, one aged three and a 22-month-old – suffered “life-threatening injuries”.

Read extra:
What do we all know concerning the Annecy knife attacker?

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly confirmed that one of many children is British.

Two of the youngsters have been earlier reported as a brother and sister however BFMTV now report they’re cousins.

The native prosecutor mentioned one other of the youngsters is Dutch. However, Germany’s chancellor Olaf Scholz mentioned they have been German.

Two grownup males have been additionally injured, certainly one of whom was injured with the knife and by a shot fired by police as they have been making the arrest.

President Emmanuel Macron mentioned these badly harm in a park have been “between life and death”.

Earlier, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin mentioned the 31-year-old had entered France legally and was not identified to safety businesses.

The suspect additionally utilized for asylum in Switzerland, Italy and France, which Mr Darmanin mentioned he “didn’t need to do as he already had asylum in Sweden”.

He carried Swedish identification paperwork and a Swedish driving licence, a police spokesman mentioned.

Prosecutor Line Bonnet-Mathis mentioned the suspect’s motives have been unknown however there was “no apparent terrorist motive” at this stage within the investigation.

There is not any intelligence on the suspect and no psychiatric report, and he has no mounted abode, Ms Bonnet-Mathis mentioned.

Mr Darmanin mentioned he had sure “Christian religious insignia” on him in the course of the incident.

He is married to a Swedish girl and so they have a three-year-old youngster who was born in Sweden, BFMTV reported.

The couple separated eight months in the past and his spouse has apparently not heard from him for 4 months.

He and his spouse have been finding out collectively to be nurses, BFMTV mentioned.

Video footage of the incident exhibits the person seems to shout “on name of Jesus Christ” as he waved his knife within the air, whereas two members of the general public tried to apprehend him.

A person who spoke to broadcaster BFMTV mentioned he noticed first aiders engaged on “little bodies, three or four years old, perhaps”.

A witness who gave his identify as Ferdinand informed BFMTV: “He (the attacker) jumped (in the playground), started shouting and then went towards the strollers [prams], repeatedly hitting the little ones with a knife.”

“Mothers were crying, everybody was running,” mentioned George, who owns a close-by restaurant.

An additional witness mentioned he noticed the attacker assault an aged man, leaping on him and stabbing him repeatedly. He mentioned he yelled at police to behave.

“It’s a place where babysitters and parents take young children to play, and the atmosphere is fantastic,” mentioned Yohan, who works at an ice cream parlour simply reverse the park.

Former Liverpool footballer, Anthony Le Tallec, mentioned he was jogging round Lake Annecy when he noticed the incident unfold.

He commented: “I see that he’s [the attacker] heading straight for a group of elderly men and women.

“He assaults one grandpa, stabs him as soon as, the cops cannot catch him, so I inform the cops, ‘shoot him’.

“Then they start shooting, they shoot at the person, right in front of me, and he falls to the ground.”

Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne mentioned it was a “heinous, unspeakable act” and the entire nation is in “shock”.

“Of course, all light will have to be shed. But today is the time for emotion,” she mentioned throughout a press convention.

There is “nothing more abominable than to attack children”, French nationwide meeting speaker Yael Braun-Pivet mentioned.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak mentioned: “The UK and France have always stood together against acts of violence, and we do so again today.”

Speaking throughout a press convention with US President Joe Biden, Mr Sunak mentioned he has been in contact with President Macron and is “ready to offer any assistance we can”.

In Paris, politicians interrupted a debate to carry a second of silence for the victims.

Francois Astorg, the mayor of Annecy, urged folks to keep away from the Paquier space of the French alpine city and mentioned his ideas have been with the victims and their households.