The radicalized suspect was presented to an investigating judge

A judicial investigation has been opened, in particular for attempted murder, kidnapping and theft, all in connection with a terrorist enterprise, and criminal terrorist association.

A 30-year-old man, known for his “radicalization” Islamist and arrested after attacking a taxi driver near Le Mans (Sarthe), was presented to an investigating judge with a view to his indictment, Monday July 22, announced the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (Pnat). He had fled after the attack, before being arrested on the night of Thursday 18 to Friday 19 July in Poissy (Yvelines), thanks to the intervention of the Raid and the BRI of the anti-terrorist sub-directorate, a source close to the investigation reported to franceinfo.

A judicial investigation has been opened, in particular for attempted murder, kidnapping and theft, all in connection with a terrorist enterprise, and criminal terrorist association.

Three people from his entourage, a man and two women aged 20 to 49, were also presented to an investigating magistrate on Monday with a view to indictment. The man is “acquired to jihadist ideology, who would have served as an intermediary in the search for weapons”of a woman who, “informed of the project, would have refrained from reporting it to the authorities”, and a friend of the main suspect who seemed “share his ideology” and took it “in charge, in particular finding him a place to hide” in the Paris region. The police custody of eight other people arrested has been lifted without further action at this stage.

According to the Pnat, the man suspected of the attempted assassination “was released from the Alençon-Condé-sur-Sarthe penitentiary on June 26, where he had been detained for almost three years serving sentences for common law offenses.” During his detention he developed “a radical ideology leading to his being taken into care in a violent radicalization prevention area”. Upon his release from prison, he was notified of an individual administrative control and surveillance measure by the Ministry of the Interior. He had to report daily to the police station near his home.

According to initial investigations, in the days preceding the attack, the man had “acquired weapons with a view to committing a violent action in the name of jihadist ideology [du groupe] Islamic State in public places in Le Mans. “After noticing the presence of internal security forces during reconnaissance, he abandoned his plan and turned towards attacking a company.”continues the Pnat.

According to the victim, who was able to escape, the wound on his neck was caused by “the author’s attempt to slit his throat”The suspect, for his part, supported “that it was an accidental injury due to a defensive movement by the victim.”