A 35-year-old Tunisian man was shot dead by police in Marseille on Tuesday after assaulting multiple people with knives and a stick.
Knife Attack in Marseille
A 35-year-old Tunisian man, legally residing in France, was removed from a hotel on September 2 in Marseille for non-payment of a bill. He later returned to the building armed with two knives and a bat, and proceeded to assault a hotel manager multiple times with the knives.
Escalating Violence
The attacker then chased the hotel manager’s son, eventually stabbing him in the back. According to France Info, the manager was stabbed multiple times.
Policing Actions
Police were summoned to the scene and appealed to the attacker to drop his weapons, but he ignored their orders and reportedly charged towards them. Responding to the threat, the officers used a taser and firearm. Despite efforts to resuscitate the man, he died at the scene. At least five other people, including the manager, received medical treatment after the incident.
Tensions Over “Allahu Akbar”
According to Le Figaro, which cited footage circulating online, the attacker reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” before being shot. Marseille’s Prosecutor, Nicolas Bessone, stated that it is too early to confirm whether “Allahu Akbar” was indeed uttered. The suspect is identified as Abdelkader D., who has been characterized as non-radical but requires psychiatric care, and was previously expelled from a mosque for “aggressive statements.”
