Paris knife attacker was French citizen born in Chechnya

Faith Matters — Sun, 13 May 2018 17:25:07 +0000

An attacker who stabbed and killed a 29-year-old in central Paris on Saturday (May 12) night was a naturalised Frenchman born in Russia’s Chechnya region in 1997, judicial sources said on Sunday. Rough cut (no reporter narration).

The aftermath of a fatal attack on Paris on Saturday night (12 May).

A 29-year-old man was killed and four others are wounded by an attacker who shouted ‘Allahu akbar’ as he stabbed his victims.

He was then shot dead by police.

Judicial sources say the assailant was born in Russia’s Chechnya region but had obtained French citizenship.

His parents are being held for questioning by police, a source said.

A government spokesperson said the attacker was categorized as a ‘fiche S,’ an indication used by officials to flag people who may be a threat to national security.

The Islamic State says it was behind the attack, without providing evidence.

France has been on high alert following a string of attacks over the past three years, the deadliest of which was in Paris in November 2015 when 130 people were killed on attacks targeting the city’s nightlife.

An onlooker at the scene, Sarah Gousse, said:

“I was in the kitchen, I was bringing food out and then we heard gun fire, two gun shots, we didn’t know if it was the police or if it was someone else and I dropped to the floor and I felt like I was there for like five minutes, and the whole restaurant, we all dropped to the floor and so the customers in the window and then we just kind of stayed on the floor for a while.”

French President Emmanuel Macron said France would “not yield an inch to the enemies of freedom,” praising and praised police for “neutralizing the terrorist”.

Sting to sing as Paris Bataclan venue reopens after 2015 attacks

Faith Matters — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 20:03:17 +0000

The Paris concert venue where Islamist militants killed 90 people in November 2015 has enrolled rock star Sting for a concert to mark its reopening a year after the tragedy.

Sting, who headed up hit pop music band The Police before a long solo career, announced the news, saying on his website that the show would seek to honor those killed and the historic venue that is reopening after a year of renovation.

“In doing so we hope to respect the memory as well as the life affirming spirit of those who fell. We shall not forget them,” said the 65-year-old singer.

Proceeds from the Nov. 12 concert will go to two charities catering to victims of the attacks of Nov 13, 2015, with some of those who were hurt in the attack being invited back to see the Sting reopener.

The head of the firm that owns the Bataclan, a landmark for rock fans and partygoers of all ages, said the venue had been totally renovated, but kept largely as it was before.

“This is not a ceremony, it’s a concert,” Jerome Langlet, head of Lagardere Unlimited Live Entertainment, said.

“It’s the one and the same Bataclan. We chose to change it all without changing anything – to change it all so that nothing remains of the night of absolute horror, but to change nothing of the soul and history of the Bataclan,” he told reporters.

Roofing, tiling and seating were replaced but with material much like before, with better entrance hall lighting, he said.

In all, 130 people died a year ago when several groups of gunmen and suicide bombers attacked the perimeter of the Stade de France sports stadium, a string of Paris cafes and the Bataclan.

Responsibility for the killings was claimed by the Islamic State group, which has called on its followers to attack France, which is bombing IS bases in Iraq and Syria.

Paris terrorist murders – Faith Matters

Paris knife attacker was French citizen born in Chechnya

Sting to sing as Paris Bataclan venue reopens after 2015 attacks