France: Man with a long criminal history, armed with a knife, enters a supermarket shouting 'Allahu Akbar' and attacks another individual

Image: Jihad Watch

A violent incident occurred at an Intermarché store in Apt (Vaucluse) on Saturday, January 25, shortly after 6 p.m., according to information obtained from a police source by Valeurs Actuelles. A man armed with a kitchen knife entered the store shouting “Allah Akbar.” He immediately approached a customer at a checkout and attacked him, stabbing him in the ear and delivering several punches. Fortunately, the knife broke during the attack, and the assailant was quickly subdued by the on-site security guard.

The attacker, identified as 32-year-old Mehdi B., born on July 12, 1992, in Apt, is well-known to the police. He is listed in the FSPRT (File of Reports for the Prevention of Radicalization of a Terrorist Nature) and is recorded in the TAJ (Processing of Criminal Records) for 16 offenses, including violence, criminal association, and manufacturing explosives. The SIPJ 84 resumed his custody later that evening, with the case being jointly handled by SDAT, DCOS 84, and the national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office.

A familiar figure to authoritiesThe victim, a customer whose identity remains undisclosed, received prompt medical attention and sustained an ear injury. However, initial reports indicate that her life is not in danger. “I am shocked and extremely angry,” said Véronique Arnaud-Deloy, the mayor of Apt, to France Bleu. “This individual was under judicial monitoring, wore an electronic bracelet, and was supposed to undergo treatment. He should have remained in prison.”

The mayor also recalled a previous incident involving the attacker, who had left a fake explosive vest made of modeling clay near the Apt college in 2016. “In 2016, weapons were found in his apartment, and yet he’s still out in the public. Where are we headed?” she questioned.

The store reopened on Sunday, with three police officers stationed at the entrance throughout the morning.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)