Knife Attack Suspect Sought Asylum in Multiple Countries, French Authorities Say
Knife Attack in French City Leaves 6 People Injured, Including 4 Children
A knife attack in the city of Annecy in France has left six people injured, four of whom are children. The attacker was taken into police custody after being shot. French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has stated that the suspect, a refugee in Sweden for ten years, did not have a significant profile in French or global intelligence records. The suspect has been living legally in France since his asylum request was accepted in 2013, and his reasons for seeking asylum in Switzerland, Italy, and France in October 2022 are unclear. The minister also highlighted a “surprising coincidence” between the suspect’s rejection for asylum on 4 June and the attack.
French President Emmanuel Macron has condemned the attack, particularly its impact on children. “The nation is in shock,” he said on Twitter, offering condolences to the victims’ families. Darmanin called it the “worst day for the French.”
The incident occurred in a park where the attacker allegedly began attacking people indiscriminately. The attacker continued to assault children despite the attempts of two individuals to stop him.
This latest incident has highlighted the issue of France’s asylum policy and how it deals with refugees. The investigation into the attack is ongoing.
