Horrified residents gathered today at the French playground where four preschoolers were stabbed to death by a Syrian refugee while a local wept uncontrollably and yelled, “Why wasn’t I here yesterday?”
Devastated locals gathered in the city of Annecy to lay flowers and light candles for the four victims, including a three-year-old British girl who was stabbed to death in a brutal attack by Abdalmash Hanoun, 31.
A local resident, Salih Ismajl, was overcome with emotion as he stood in front of the playground today and yelled, “Don’t touch the children!” Don’t touch the children! Why wasn’t I here yesterday? Why wasn’t I here?’
The attacker had shouted “in the name of Jesus Christ” and was holding on to a necklace bearing a crucifix as he launched his “vile” rampage yesterday in Annecy, a tourist hotspot in south-eastern France.
Hanoun initially targeted two French cousins named Ennio and Alba, both two, and then in front of him attacked Ettie Turner, a three-year-old British girl on holiday with her parents, and Peter, a 22-month-old Dutch baby who was being pursued by locals and arrested.
Today French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte visited Ettie’s family and relatives of Ennio and Alba at the University Hospital in Grenoble, who are traumatized by yesterday’s brutal attack.
21-year-old local resident Leo, who was standing next to the scene of the brutal attack today, said, “We feel anger and incomprehension.” I get the impression of how terrible it was. It affects us all.
A local resident, Salih Ismajl, was overcome with emotion as he stood in front of the playground today and yelled, “Don’t touch the children!” Don’t touch the children! Why wasn’t I here yesterday? Why wasn’t I here?’
Horrifying footage shows a Syrian refugee repeatedly stabbing a toddler in his pram in a savage attack at a French playground as his mother screamed
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte arrive at the University Hospital in Grenoble in the French Alps to visit victims of the knife attack
“We all have to think of all those kids, all those parents that went through that yesterday.”
A disturbing video shows Hanoun, a Christian, running into the small playground and repeatedly stabbing a toddler in his stroller while his screaming mother tries to shield him from the attack.
More dramatic footage shows the recently divorced Hanoun later being chased through the park by locals and police before being shot dead by an officer and pinned to the ground.
The four children suffered serious stab wounds in the attack. Paramedics at Grenoble hospital said today that Ennio and Albia remain in critical condition.
Three-year-old Brit Ettie Turner, who is in the same hospital, is in stable condition, as is Peter, having been transferred to a specialist medical unit in Geneva.
Mr Macron spent nearly two hours with the three young victims at the Grenoble hospital and their parents.
A source close to the Elysee Palace told Web: “The President has spoken to the parents of the young English woman.” The President’s wife, Brigitte Macron, was also present.
“They spoke to her family and the families of the injured French children.” “The President was in the room with the parents for quite a long time.”
Mr Macron and Brigitte are now traveling an hour and a half north from Grenoble to Annecy to meet with other victims, their families and the people who came to their aid following the attack, which is not classified as terrorist.
Investigators are still trying to figure out what Hanoun’s motives for the attack were. Annecy prosecutor Line Bonnet-Mathis said in a tweet that she would extend the suspect’s pre-trial detention for further interrogation.
Mr Macron and his wife Brigitte arrive at a hospital in Grenoble to visit victims of the attack
Macron shakes hands with hospital staff treating victims of the Annecy knife attack
Salih Ismajl cries in front of messages and gifts of flowers at the children’s playground in Annecy, the day after several children and two adults were stabbed
A woman lays flowers near the crime scene
A woman pays homage today in the children’s playground in front of messages and flower displays
A woman with a baby lays flowers near the crime scene
Flowers, candles and balloons are laid for the victims of yesterday’s stabbings in the Jardins de l’Europe park in Annecy
Horrified witnesses said mothers ran past them screaming “run, run” after the insane attack, which Mr Macron condemned as “absolute cowardice”.
Witnesses said the stabber, who refused asylum in France four days before the attack, began attacking the preschool children while they were playing in a small playground, resulting in an outright “slaughter”. They said he launched his attack on the toddlers because they were “easy targets”.
French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said today all four children underwent surgery for their life-threatening knife wounds and are “under constant medical surveillance”.
What do we know about the attacker so far?
A Syrian refugee identified as Abdalmash Hanoun, 31, shouted “in the name of Jesus Christ” as he repeatedly stabbed children to death in a savage attack in Annecy, France on Thursday.
Investigators try to find out who Hanoun is and what his motives for the attack are.
Here, Web reveals what we know so far about the attacker.
Recently divorced and father
Abdalmash Hanoun, originally from the Syrian city of Al-Hassake, was recently divorced from his 26-year-old wife, with whom he has a three-year-old daughter.
The couple, who had lived together in Trollhättan, Sweden, separated eight months ago and have not been in contact for four months.
His ex-wife said on condition of anonymity, “He called me about four months ago.” He lived in a church.’ She added that he failed to obtain Swedish citizenship.
An investigative source said Hanoun is a devout Christian.
The source said Hanoun was a “professed and devout Christian” who was carrying a prayer book and a cross at the time of his arrest.
ASYLUM GRANTED IN SWEDEN
Hanoun has been living in Sweden for ten years after being granted asylum, French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said.
At the time of his application, he stated that he was a Syrian Christian.
During those ten years in Sweden, the knifeman had led an “orderly life,” according to documents seen by Aftonbladet.
At a secondary school there, he learned both Swedish and English and, together with his wife, trained as a nurse.
However, he was convicted of illegally claiming benefits in Sweden. He was handed a suspended sentence and a fine.
Hanoun had applied for Swedish citizenship four years after receiving permanent residency in Sweden, but was turned down.
Last summer, his third attempt to obtain Swedish citizenship was rejected and he decided to travel to France, where he applied for asylum.
APPLICATION FOR ASYLUM IN FRANCE
Hanoun had applied for asylum in France in November last year but was turned down four days before his barbaric attack began because he already had refugee status in Sweden.
Because of his refugee status in Sweden, the attacker was able to enter France legally. A refugee can move freely in the EU.
French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said he had Swedish identity documents and a Swedish driver’s license with him at the time of his arrest.
Borne said the suspect was “not known to any intelligence agency” and had “no history of psychiatric problems.”
Ms Bonnet-Mathis, who is leading the investigation into the crimes, said: ‘We are dealing with very young victims whose health is still extremely fragile.’ All are in intensive care.’
One of the two pensioners injured in the attack said he was sitting on a park bench when Hanoun tried to stab him.
“I heard a commotion and then saw someone being followed by people. “He had a knife, I saw he was behind me,” Youssouf, 78, told Portal.
“All of a sudden he came in front of me and tried to stab me with his knife and I made a movement with my left arm to avoid the blow.” Luckily, I was slightly injured in the elbow.
“Then I was treated by the fire brigade and paramedics. He was still being followed by civilians in front of me, so he ran to the left. After that I think he attacked other people and was caught by the police and I heard the shot.’
The victim continued, “I felt like there was no reason for him to attack me.” I remained calm, not going after him to pursue him. I kept quiet and still sat there but he came like this and he probably wanted to make another sacrifice to bother another person.
“I’m calm but I can imagine the stress on the children’s family and loved ones or other children who saw the incident.”
Hanoun has lived in Sweden for ten years, where he was granted refugee status in April, security sources and his ex-wife said.
“He called me about four months ago. “He lived in a church,” his ex-wife said on condition of anonymity, saying he left Sweden because he failed to obtain Swedish citizenship.
He had applied for asylum in France but was turned down four days before his barbaric attack began because he already had refugee status in Sweden.
Horrifying videos of the attack show Hanoun carrying a knife and putting a necklace around his neck, which is said to be a crucifix.
Holding the knife, the Syrian refugee screamed “in the name of Jesus Christ” as he ran toward a screaming mother with her young boy in a stroller before a local hit the attacker with his backpack and chased him away.
But the knife fighter jumps onto the playground again and runs towards the mother and her toddler. The woman screams and tries to cover her son with her body, but Hanoun quickly walks around her and stabs the little boy twice.
The toddler is seen screaming in pain while the mother and terrified parents scream for help as the attacker runs away again.
Hanoun runs back towards the child in the stroller and stabs him again in front of his horrified mother before being chased away by a local who throws his bag at him.
Additional videos, taken minutes after the stabbing, show the attacker being chased through the park by locals. Parents can be heard in the background screaming for help for their injured children.
Armed police officers soon arrived and gave chase before a gunshot was heard and the attacker fell to the ground before a desperate fight with police ensued.
The man who tried to stop Hanoun with his bag has been identified as Henri, a 24-year-old management and philosophy student. In France he is celebrated as a “backpack hero”.
For his part, Henri shied away from the label ‘hero’. He said he was “trying to act as all French people should or would act”.
“In that moment you shut down your brain and instinctively react a little bit like an animal,” he told broadcaster BFMTV. “It was impossible for me to witness that without reacting.
“I’m far from the only one with my reaction. Many other people around, like me, started running after him to scare him and push him away. And other people immediately went to the children to tend to the injured.”
Henri added: “I remember a community worker also came from the right with a big plastic shovel to try and hit him.”
Henri’s father said that in a phone conversation after the attack, his son “told me that the Syrian was incoherent, saying many strange things in different languages, and invoking his father, his mother and all the gods.”
“In short, he was obsessed with who knows what, but he was certainly obsessed with folly,” the AP’s father said.
He said he showed the disturbing video of the attack to his other children and his wife, adding that he and his wife had trouble sleeping even after learning Henri was safe.
“We thanked Providence and His guardian angels,” he said.
Videos show the attacker running into the small playground and repeatedly stabbing a toddler in his stroller while his screaming mother tries to shield him from the attack
The attacker, identified as Abdalmash Hanoun, 31 (pictured with the knife in the playground), launched his “heinous” killing spree at around 9.45am yesterday morning in a lakeside park in Annecy, an Alpine town in south-eastern France
Video taken minutes after the stabbing shows the attacker being chased through the park by locals yesterday. Parents can be heard in the background screaming for help for their injured children
A clip shows police officers holding the suspect on the ground after a shot was heard
Witnesses to the knife attack flee the scene
Youssouf, 78, suffered minor stab wounds when attacked by Hanoun
A witness, who gave his name as Ferdinand, described the attack to BFM TV as follows: “He jumped.” [in the playground]”He started screaming and then walked towards the strollers, repeatedly hitting the little ones with a knife.”
“Mothers were crying, everyone was running,” said George, another witness and owner of a nearby restaurant.
Another witness, who asked not to be named, said: “The man was screaming in English causing absolute panic as he started attacking the little ones.”
“He wanted to hurt as many people as possible.” He caused a bloodbath. “The little kids were just easy targets.”
Another witness told Le Dauphine: “We saw one person attacking children playing, small children, obviously that was his aim.” After people tried to scare him, he walked away and the police intervened .
Former Liverpool footballer Anthony Le Tallec said he saw a group of people run towards him before a mother yelled at him: “Run, run, there’s someone stabbing everyone all over the lake.” They stabbed them Children, run, run!’
He continued, “I was so surprised, I continued and then all of a sudden the guy appeared in front of me, then I saw the police standing ten meters behind him but they hadn’t managed to catch him yet.” He was so close to me that I avoided him.”
An ice cream vendor who works at the shore park said he saw the attacker there a few days earlier, looking out over the lake surrounded by mountains.
“I had already seen him, he had been sitting on a bench for two to three days,” he told BFMTV.
“He was looking at the lake like everyone else,” the witness said, but added the suspect was sitting with “trembling legs and a large black bag.”
Prime Minister Borne, who traveled to Annecy yesterday, said Hanoun is a Syrian national who was granted asylum in Sweden ten years ago. At the time of his application, he stated that he was a Syrian Christian.
He entered France legally, Ms Borne said, and was carrying Swedish identity papers and a Swedish driver’s license. He was unknown to security officials and has no prior criminal or psychiatric record.
The local prosecutor, who was leading the investigation, said the man’s motives were unknown but that it appeared unrelated to terrorism. He is being investigated for attempted murder and will undergo a psychiatric evaluation today.
Hanoun applied for asylum in France in November last year, but police sources say his application was rejected four days ago on the grounds that he already had refugee status in Sweden.
According to an investigating source, Hanoun is married, the father of a three-year-old girl and a devout Christian who was carrying a prayer book and a cross at the time of his arrest.
It was alleged that the suspect and his ex-wife, who lived in Trollhättan north of Gothenburg, had separated eight months ago and had not been in contact for four months. The couple had reportedly trained as nurses.
Paramedics treated victims at the scene yesterday, including one victim in a stroller
Police officers work in a cordoned-off area on a playground after the knife attack
Police forensic officers are on duty outside the headquarters of Loc Prud’homme, MP for the leftist La France Insoumise party, in Villenave-d’Ornon today. The building had been destroyed with right-wing extremist slogans
After the attack, Mr Macron tweeted: “Attack of absolute cowardice this morning in a park in Annecy.” Children and adults are caught between life and death.
“The nation is in shock.” Our thoughts are with them, their families and the emergency services who mobilized.”
Several witnesses described Le Paquier Park as a normally tranquil spot, popular with tourists for its stunning views of Lake Annecy and the mountains.
“It’s a place where babysitters and parents take little kids to play.” “I often see around 15 little kids there in the mornings and the atmosphere is amazing,” said Yohan, who works at an ice cream parlor just across the street from the park.
France has been shocked by a spate of violent incidents in recent months, including last month’s fatal stabbing of a nurse in the northern city of Reims. Also last month, a drunk driver accidentally killed three police officers.
Mr Macron has denounced what he calls a “decivilization process” in the country, while opposition MPs say his government has been too lax on law and order.
“Nothing is more heinous than attacking children,” National Assembly Speaker Yael Braun-Pivet said on Twitter. Parliament observed a minute’s silence over the incident.
A number of traumatic attacks have occurred in France in recent years.
In 2012, Franco-Algerian Islamic extremist Mohamed Merah killed seven people, including three children and a rabbi, at a Jewish school in a rampage in the southern city of Toulouse.
Most recently, the 2020 beheading of a teacher in broad daylight near his school in a Paris suburb by a radicalized Chechen refugee sparked shock and grief and a national debate about the influence of radical Islam in disadvantaged areas of the country.
Yesterday’s attack is likely to prompt a closer scrutiny of France’s immigration and asylum policies, with right-wing politicians seizing on the alleged perpetrator’s identity as a refugee.
“The investigation will clarify what happened, but it appears that the perpetrator has the same profile that is often seen in these attacks,” right-wing Republican Party leader Eric Ciotti told reporters in Parliament.
“We have to draw conclusions without being naive, with strength and clear mind,” he said.
Pictures today showed police forensic scientists at work outside the headquarters of Loc Prud’homme, MP for the leftist La France Insoumise party, in Villenave-d’Ornon. The building had been destroyed with right-wing extremist slogans.
The leader of the far-right Rassemblement National party, Marine Le Pen, wrote that she heard the news with “shock and horror”.