French Police Hunt for Killer of a Muslim Man in Mosque

April 28, 2025 | 07:28 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A village in the southern part of France was thrown into chaos after a Muslim man was stabbed 50 times to death inside a mosque just before Friday prayers, while the police continue to hunt the suspect.

The French police are continuing their manhunt this weekend for a man suspected of killing a Muslim worshipper inside a mosque in the southern part of the country, allegedly recording the brutal attack on a mobile phone and shouting insults against Islam.

The victim was fatally stabbed on Friday morning in the village of La Grand-Combe, in the Gard region of southern France.

According to regional prosecutor Abdelkrim Grini on Saturday as reported by rfi, the attacker is still at large.

Although the motive for the crime is still unclear, security camera footage reportedly shows the suspect hurling insults at "Allah" - the word in Arabic for God.

In a post on X, the Great Mosque of Paris condemned the attack, calling it a "serious heinous act that took place inside a mosque, the house of God."

"We urge the authorities to investigate this crime, to promptly uncover the motive and very worrying circumstances, and to find the perpetrator, who is being investigated for murder," they said.

French Prime Minister Franois Bayrou condemned the stabbing, stating, "We stand by the loved ones of the victim, with the faithful who are deeply shocked. State resources are mobilized to ensure that the killer is apprehended and punished."

Possible Islamophobia Motive

The suspect is said to have recorded the attack on his mobile phone, capturing a harrowing video as the victim was dying, which he then sent to others.

The person briefly posted it on social media before promptly deleting it.

According to another source, the suspect has been identified as a French citizen of Bosnian descent, although he has not been apprehended.

"The suspect is actively being pursued. The authorities are handling this matter very seriously," prosecutor Grini said.

He added that investigators are keeping all possibilities open, including the possibility that the attack may have an Islamophobia motive. The French anti-terrorism prosecutor's office is considering whether to take over the case officially.

The Incident Shocked the Community

The victim and the assailant were alone in the mosque during the attack. After initially praying together, the assailant suddenly turned violent, stabbing the victim 50 times before fleeing the scene.

The tragedy was only discovered later in the day when other worshippers arrived at the mosque for Friday prayers and found the victim's body.

Prosecutor Grini said the victim, believed to be between 23 and 24 years old, was a regular visitor to the mosque and well-known in the community.

In contrast, the assailant had never been seen there before.

Some locals described the victim as a young man from Mali, who had moved to the village several years ago and had become a highly respected and beloved member of the community.

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