2025 Mulhouse stabbing attack
| 2025 Mulhouse stabbing attack | |
|---|---|
 The market where the attack occurred in 2012 | |
| Location | Mulhouse, Alsace, France |
| Date | 22 February 2025 c.3:40 p.m. (CET) |
| Target | Demonstration protesting the M23 campaign in the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
Attack type | Mass stabbing |
| Weapons | Knife, screwdriver |
| Deaths | 1 |
| Injured | 7 |
| Victim | Lino Sousa Loureiro |
| Motive | Islamist terrorism |
| Accused | Brahim Abdessemed |
A knife attack occurred on 22 February 2025 in Mulhouse, France, resulting in one fatality, a 69-year-old Portuguese civilian, and seven injuries, including two seriously injured police officers. The incident took place during a demonstration at a public market supporting the Democratic Republic of Congo amid the M23 campaign, where law enforcement was conducting routine patrol duties.
Attack
[edit]The attacker targeted both law enforcement personnel and civilians.[1] A demonstration at the Mulhouse market, a public canal market supporting the Democratic Republic of Congo amid the M23 campaign was targeted. During the attack, two police officers sustained severe injuries: one received wounds to the neck region, while another was stabbed in the chest. 69-year-old Lino Sousa Loureiro from Ermesinde, Portugal, who attempted to intervene in the situation was fatally wounded.[2] 37-year-old Algerian national Brahim Abdessemed was apprehended at the location of the incident.[3][4]
Perpetrator
[edit]The perpetrator was identified by prosecutor's as 37-year-old Algerian immigrant Brahim Abdessemed. He was described to be an Islamic extremist with a schizophrenic profile. Abdessemed was born on April 20, 1987 in Batna, Algeria, and arrived at France in 2014 without papers.[1] Abdessemed was arrested and convicted prior to the attack of glorifying terrorism including militant group Hamas and the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel. Abdessemed was put on house arrest after serving his several month sentence while authorities sought to deport him back to Algeria.[5] French authorities tried ten times to deport him, but Algeria refused to take him.[6]
Investigation
[edit]Following the attack, the local prosecutor's office initiated a terrorism investigation, prompted by witness reports that the perpetrator had exclaimed "Allahu Akbar" ("God is great" in Arabic) during the assault. Subsequent investigation revealed that the suspect had been previously placed on a terrorist watch list and was subject to an outstanding deportation order at the time of the attack.[3][7]
Responses
[edit]French President Emmanuel Macron officially classified the incident as an "Islamist terrorist attack," emphasizing there was "no doubt" about its nature. In his public statement, Macron extended condolences to the victim's family while reaffirming his administration's commitment to combating terrorism within French territory.[3]
France Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau described him as an Islamic extremist with a schizophrenic profile and criticized Algeria for resisting the return of criminals France is seeking to deport.[8]
The Mayor of Mulhouse, Michele Lutz, addressed the incident on social media, expressing that "horror has seized our city." Prime Minister of France François Bayrou characterized the attack as an act of fanaticism and conveyed his sympathies to the affected families, expressing hope for the recovery of the injured officers.[3]
See also
[edit]- 2025 Villach stabbing attack
- 2025 Aschaffenburg stabbing attack
- List of terrorist incidents in France
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Attentat à Mulhouse : un mort et deux policiers grièvement blessés, l'assaillant se nomme Brahim Abdessemed" [Attack in Mulhouse: one dead and two police officers seriously injured, the assailant's name is Brahim Abdessemed] (in French). Paris Match. February 22, 2025. Retrieved February 22, 2025.
- ^ "Attentat de Mulhouse : "nous sommes en deuil", qui était Lino Sousa Loureiro, la victime tuée samedi" [Mulhouse attack: "we are in mourning", who was Lino Sousa Loureiro, the victim killed on Saturday] (in French). France 3. February 23, 2025. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "France stabbing: One dead and police officers injured in Mulhouse". www.bbc.com. 2025-02-22. Retrieved 2025-02-22.
- ^ Bairin, Pierre (2025-02-22). "Knife attack in Mulhouse, France, leaves one dead". CNN. Retrieved 2025-02-22.
- ^ "French authorities detained 4 people after a deadly stabbing linked to Islamic extremism". Associated Press. February 23, 2025. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
- ^ "One dead, several police wounded in 'Islamist' stabbing attack in France". The Times of Israel. February 22, 2025. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
- ^ "One person dead and several people injured after stabbing attack in the French city of Mulhouse". euronews.com. 22 February 2025. Retrieved 2025-02-22.
- ^ "French authorities detained 4 people after a deadly stabbing linked to Islamic extremism". ABC News. February 23, 2025. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
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