Annecy assault: ‘Backpack hero’ chased ‘possessed’ knifeman after British woman and 5 others stabbed in French park

A 24-year-old has been hailed the “backpack hero” for confronting the suspect after the stabbing of a British woman and 5 others in a French park – whereas utilizing his bag as a protect.

Henri, who was on a nine-month Catholic pilgrimage round France‘s cathedrals, mentioned that after realising the extent of the assault he “followed [his] instincts and tried to protect [the] children”.

Four youngsters, aged between 22 months and three years previous, have been left with “life-threatening injuries” after the suspect, a Syrian refugee named by French media as Abdalmasih H, rampaged by way of the lakeside park within the city of Annecy.

The most critically injured youngsters have been two cousins.

Two grownup males have been additionally damage throughout the incident – certainly one of whom was injured with the knife and by a shot fired by police as they have been arresting the suspect.

Using his bag to swipe on the attacker, and at one level throwing one of many backpacks to fend off his blade, Henri informed broadcaster BFMTV that he acted off his instincts and instantly ran after the suspect, making an attempt to scare him off and distance him from the injured.

“I didn’t even think, I must admit the brain really unplugged,” he mentioned.

“For me, it was just impossible to let those who can’t defend themselves get attacked by someone who seemed like a crazy person.

“I had my large 20kg backpack on my again, I attempted to run with the large one at first within the park behind him earlier than realising he was a lot quicker than me so I removed my large backpack after and adopted him with my little bag.”

Henri added: “He tried to attack me at some point, our eyes have met.

“I understood that it wasn’t a man in a standard state, one thing actually unhealthy was inside him and it needed to completely be stopped.

“I am far from alone in having reacted.

“Many different folks round began, like me, to run after him to attempt to scare him, push him away.

“And other people immediately went over to the children to take care of the injured.”

Read extra:
British girl, 3, has ‘woken up’ – Macron
Victim was there on holiday
What do we know about the Annecy knife attacker?

President Emmanuel Macron mentioned on Friday that the victims would “continue to improve”.

The two cousins have been stabilised and the three-year-old British nationwide is “awake and watching television” after being handled at a hospital in Grenoble, Mr Macron mentioned.

A wounded Dutch woman has additionally improved and a critically injured grownup is regaining consciousness.

He mentioned that the kids have been saved by the “swiftness” of those that intervened after the incident, together with Henri.

Henri requested the French president if he could possibly be invited to the inauguration of Notre-Dame Cathedral – which was partially destroyed in a fire in 2019 – when it re-opens.

Mr Macron mentioned he’ll personally be sure he’s invited.

“Thank you immeasurably for your courage,” Mr Macron mentioned to those that intervened. “You experienced very hard moments, traumatising. I am very proud of you.”

Motives for the assault stay unknown, however there was “no apparent terrorist motive”, in accordance with native prosecutor Line Bonnet-Mathis.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin mentioned the 31-year-old suspect lately had an 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 discovered of the choice on 4 June, French broadcaster BFMTV mentioned.

Henri’s father, Francois, mentioned his son “told me that the Syrian was incoherent, saying lots of strange things in different languages, invoking his father, his mother, all the Gods”.

“In short, he was possessed by who knows what, but possessed by folly, that’s certain,” he mentioned.