France: Muslim migrant shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ injures multiple people in knife attack linked to jihad

Image: Jihad Watch

Marseille was gripped by fear on Tuesday evening after a violent knife rampage left several people injured, some critically. The attacker, an Algerian prisoner who had reportedly been mistakenly released from an administrative detention center, carried out a series of assaults across the city before being fatally shot by police.

The violence began when the suspect, identified as 35-year-old Abdelkader D., was evicted from a local hotel for failing to pay his accommodation charges. Enraged, he allegedly launched a brutal knife attack on the hotel manager. In the ensuing chaos, he also stabbed the manager’s son and another hotel guest, the latter sustaining severe injuries.

The man then fled to Cours Belsunce, a busy thoroughfare in Marseille, where he randomly attacked two passersby. Eyewitnesses reported that he may have shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the assault, suggesting a possible extremist motive, though authorities have not yet confirmed this element.

Police Response

Border Police (PAF) officers were quickly dispatched to the scene. Despite repeated orders to surrender, the suspect resisted arrest. Officers first attempted to subdue him using electric shock pistols (PIE), but when he continued his violent behavior, they were forced to open fire. Several shots were fired, leaving the man fatally wounded.

Background of the Attacker

According to a police source, Abdelkader D. was a Tunisian national with a valid residence permit until 2032. However, he was already well known to the Criminal Records Processing Unit (TAJ) and the Territorial Intelligence Service, who had flagged him for “unstable behavior with violent potential.” The revelation that he had been mistakenly released from detention has sparked serious questions about procedural lapses in the system.

Victims and Investigation

All victims of the attack were rushed to nearby hospitals, with several in critical condition. The area surrounding Cours Belsunce was swiftly cordoned off as investigators collected evidence. The Judicial Police (PJ) has been tasked with leading the investigation.

Given the circumstances, the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) is closely monitoring the case, though the event has not yet been officially classified as a terrorist act.

Official Reactions

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau announced that he would arrive at the scene later in the evening to oversee the response and reassure residents. Meanwhile, Marseille Public Prosecutor Nicolas Bessonne described the incident as a “criminal journey”, emphasizing that the suspect attempted to attack people “blindly and gratuitously.”

The shocking episode has reignited debates in France over security, immigration control, and the handling of potentially dangerous individuals by administrative detention centers.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)