a young man in police custody at the same time as the author of the knife attack in Annecy testifies

It is “a contest of circumstances” that he would have “preferred to avoid”. Kevin *, 21, found himself in police custody at the Annecy police station (Haute-Savoie) at the same time as the suspect of the knife attack, Thursday, June 8, which was confirmed to us by a judicial source. According to his testimony and documents that franceinfo was able to consult, the young man was arrested the day before, Wednesday around 6 p.m., for “shoplifting” in a city store.

>> Knife attack in Annecy: follow the evolution of the situation and the investigation live

Thursday, mid-morning, around 10 a.m., the S31-year-old yrien who has just shed blood is in turn taken to the cell. “He was crying a lot, he was shouting in English. ‘Escape me’ [‘aidez-moi à m’échapper’]’save me’ [‘sauvez-moi’]. He pretends to be a victim, he also makes some religious remarks like ‘my God'”, assures Kevin *, whom franceinfo met, Friday, on the espanade du Pâquier, in Annecy. For quite a while I was his cellmate, he was in the cell right next to me. I could hear him rolling on the floor.”

At that time, the young man is not aware of the facts committed. It’s out of custody, “around 17 o’clock”, that he will make the connection. He turns on the TV, sees “the gentleman’s physique” and understand that “It was the gentleman in question”. “It’s hard to realize, I was relieved to be out but I was also upset, it took me a while to realize”, he testifies. If Kevin decided to come to the scene of the attack, it is to collect himself “for families”, “for my city”.

* (alias chosen by the person)