Brussels (Brussels Morning) – A 69-year-old man stabbed to death and injured police officers in Mulhouse, France, despite the assailant’s deportation order and spot on terrorist watchlist.
One dead and several wounded
A deadly knife attack occurred in the eastern part of France, Mulhouse, yesterday 22nd of February 2024. A 69-year-old Portuguese man was killed as he was trying to stop another man from assaulting municipal police officers with a knife.
Furthermore, two police officers are in severe conditions in what French authorities are referring to as a terrorist attack – President Emanuelle Macron made sure to leave to doubt as to the motive of the attack during an interview shortly after the incident.
The attack took place at a covered canal market in Mulhouse, a city near the German border. A 37-year-old Algerian man, identified as an Islamic extremist by French authorities, launched an assault on municipal police officers and civilians while shouting “Allahu Akbar”.
The assailant, previously convicted for glorifying terrorism, was under a deportation order and also appeared on France’s terrorist watchlist. He was arrested at the scene and is now in police custody.
Blame Game
The failure to remove known extremists from French territory remains a major political controversy, one that has played a role in the rise of the far-right party Rassemblement National poised to be a serious contender for the French national elections of 2027.
Following the attack, French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau visited Mulhouse, where he harshly criticized Algeria for blocking the assailant’s deportation.
Here is a man who should have been accepted back in Algeria. Algeria refused him ten times. Ten separate times did my services try to get the accord with the Algerian consulate without success – even though the assailant was born in Algeria,
However, critics could argue that if the Algerian administration is the most relevant party to blame for terrorist attacks on French soil, maybe Bruno Retailleau should pursue a political career in Algeria.
