A suspect involved in the brutal stabbing death of a young Malian man at a mosque in southern France has been arrested after surrendering to Italian authorities. The murder, which occurred on Friday, shocked the nation, leading to widespread outrage and condemnation of the Islamophobic nature of the crime.
The victim, identified as Aboubakar Cisse, was attacked in the village of La Grand-Combe in the Gard region. The assailant, a French national born in Lyon in 2004, stabbed Cisse multiple times before filming him while making derogatory remarks about Islam. The suspect fled the scene after the attack, leaving Cisse’s body to be discovered later that morning when other worshippers arrived for Friday prayers.
The suspect, identified only as Olivier A., surrendered to police at a station in Pistoia, near Florence, Italy, on Sunday. He had been on the run for three days following the violent incident. According to prosecutor Abdelkrim Grini of Ales, the surrender was a result of the swift and effective measures taken by authorities, and he expressed satisfaction with the suspect’s decision to turn himself in.
“This is a very positive development,” Grini said, acknowledging the effectiveness of the efforts to locate the suspect. “He had no other choice but to surrender.”
The crime, which is being classified as an Islamophobic attack, has sparked outrage across France, home to the largest Muslim community in the European Union. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the attack, affirming that “there is no place for religious hatred in French society.” Prime Minister François Bayrou also denounced the murder as an act of Islamophobia, while French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau congratulated the authorities for their swift response.
After the murder, the suspect reportedly filmed a video boasting about the attack and made further threats, indicating a potential for future violent acts. He was considered “potentially extremely dangerous,” according to French officials.
A European arrest warrant has been issued for the suspect, and plans are underway to transfer him back to France for prosecution. The process of extradition may take several weeks.
The murder has intensified debates about religious intolerance and immigration in France, particularly given the suspect’s Bosnian heritage and the climate of tension surrounding Muslim communities. A silent march in La Grand-Combe on Sunday, attended by over 1,000 people, paid tribute to the victim. In Paris, several hundred gathered in solidarity, with political figures like Jean-Luc Mélenchon criticizing the current political atmosphere and its impact on Muslim communities.
As France continues to grapple with the impact of this tragic event, President Macron reiterated the country’s commitment to combating racism and religious hatred, stating that these forces “will never have a place in France.”
