According to the National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT), which has taken charge of the investigation, the attacker is a 37-year-old Algerian-born man who was already on a terrorism watchlist and subject to deportation orders.
PNAT said the suspect first attacked municipal police officers, shouting “Allahu Akbar” (God is greatest). Witnesses later confirmed to AFP that the suspect had shouted the phrase multiple times. A civilian passerby who tried to intervene was fatally wounded. The suspect was arrested at the scene.
Speaking at the police station on Saturday, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said the man had “a schizophrenic profile” and that his act had “a psychiatric dimension.” He noted that France had repeatedly attempted to expel him from the country, but Algeria refused to cooperate.
Macron said that the French government will continue its work “to eradicate terrorism from our soil.”
