After the alleged Islamist attack in Nice that left three dead, the French police arrested a second suspect. The 35-year-old was taken into police custody because of possible connections to the suspected attacker, according to judicial circles. He is said to have been in contact with the alleged perpetrator Brahim Issaoui the day before the attack. According to his family, the 21-year-old Tunisian had become increasingly isolated over the past two years and become religious.
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On Friday morning, investigators had already announced the arrest of a 47-year-old who was also suspected of having been in contact with the attacker shortly before the crime. According to information from investigators, however, no connection to the attack could be proven.
A 54-year-old man and a 60-year-old woman were killed in the attack on Thursday morning in the Notre-Dame basilica. A second woman was able to flee injured to a bar, but the 44-year-old Brazilian died there from her injuries. According to the anti-terror prosecutor’s office, the attacker slit the man and the 60-year-old’s throats. Accordingly, the perpetrator used a 30 centimeter long knife with a 17 centimeter long blade.
Investigators found two more knives, two cell phones and a Koran in his pocket. The prosecution assumes that the attacker wanted to kill many more people. She is investigating murder in connection with “a terrorist act”.
The alleged perpetrator had recently entered France from Italy. According to a source familiar with the investigation, authorities believe that Issaoui did not arrive in Nice more than 48 hours before the attack. According to another source, it is still unclear what exactly led the 21-year-old to the act.
Issaoui comes from a large family in the Tunisian coastal town of Sfax. His family can hardly believe that he could be the culprit. “That’s not normal,” said his brother. Other relatives said the 21-year-old had recently withdrawn. The mother said, “He made beds, went to work, came back. He did not meet with others and did not otherwise leave the house. “
According to Nice’s mayor Christian Estrosi, the attacker shouted “Allahu Akbar” (God is great) several times before the police shot him and wounded him with gunfire. According to information from investigators, he was not conscious again by Friday evening. The authorities in Tunisia also opened an investigation and announced that they would support the French authorities.
“On none of our watch lists”
According to France’s Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, Issaoui was “not on any of our watch lists, neither the French nor the European ones.” The minister repeated on Friday that France was “at war with Islamist extremism.”
Darmanin also announced that it would send thousands of additional emergency services to the streets to ensure safety in France. Accordingly, 3500 reserve police are mobilized so that a total of 7000 security forces are available to the local authorities. Schools and churches in particular should be better protected. (AFP)
