Syrian refugee who stabbed British baby 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 discovered of the choice on 4 June, French broadcaster BFMTV stated.

The 31-year-old was arrested in connection with the attack at a lakeside park wherein 4 kids – two aged two, one aged three and a 22-month-old – suffered “life-threatening injuries”.

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

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

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

The native prosecutor stated one other of the kids is Dutch. However, Germany’s chancellor Olaf Scholz stated 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 stated these badly damage in a park have been “between life and death”.

Earlier, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin stated the 31-year-old had entered France legally and was not recognized to safety companies.

The suspect additionally utilized for asylum in Switzerland, Italy and France, which Mr Darmanin stated 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 stated.

Prosecutor Line Bonnet-Mathis stated 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 fastened abode, Ms Bonnet-Mathis stated.

Mr Darmanin stated he had sure “Christian religious insignia” on him through the incident.

He is married to a Swedish girl and so they have a three-year-old baby 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 stated.

Video footage of the incident reveals 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 stated he noticed first aiders engaged on “little bodies, three or four years old, perhaps”.

A witness who gave his title as Ferdinand advised 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,” stated George, who owns a close-by restaurant.

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

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

Former Liverpool footballer, Anthony Le Tallec, stated 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 stated 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 stated throughout a press convention.

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

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

Speaking throughout a press conference with US President Joe Biden, Mr Sunak stated 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 stated his ideas have been with the victims and their households.