Paris Villejuif stabbings: Counter-terror unit takes on case
- Published
One person was killed and two others were injured in the stabbing on Friday
Counter-terror prosecutors are investigating a knife attack carried out near Paris on Friday, the French Ministry of Justice said.
A man named only as Nathan C stabbed a man to death and injured two people, before being shot dead by police.
Officials said he had a history of severe mental illness.
But prosecutors said on Saturday that "an act of terrorism cannot be ruled out just because a person has psychiatric problems".
Philippe Bugeaud, deputy director of the regional judicial police, said there were a number of religious books in the 22-year-old attacker's bag, "some of which we can classify as being Salafist".
Local prosecutor Laure Beccuau said her department was working closely with the national anti-terrorism unit on the investigation.
Laure Beccuau, left, and Philippe Bugeaud said that terrorism has not been ruled out as a motive
A press release from France's Ministry of Justice also confirmed that the national anti-terrorism department was investigating the case.
It said investigations have "established a certain radicalisation of the accused", adding: "These new elements justify the investigation continuing into the counts of murder and attempted murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise."
Prosecutors also confirmed that the attacker had a history of psychiatric problems, for which he had been admitted to hospital.
Ms Beccuau said he had last left hospital in May 2019, and that a month later he stopped taking his medication.
The attack took place on Friday at about 14:00 local time (13:00 GMT) at Hautes-Bruyères park.
Officers chased the perpetrator, before shooting him dead.
The mayor of Villejuif, Franck Le Bohellec, said the man who was stabbed to death was a 56-year-old who had been out walking in the park with his wife.
He died trying to protect her, the mayor said. She was seriously injured.
- Published3 January 2020
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