Man Arrested in Italy for Mosque Stabbing that Shocked France

La Grand-Combe, France — A man has been arrested in Italy after allegedly killing a worshipper inside a mosque in southern France. Olivier A., a 21-year-old French national from Lyon, turned himself in to police on Sunday after three days on the run. He is suspected of stabbing 22-year-old Aboubakar Cissé, a Malian carpenter and volunteer at the mosque, to death on Friday morning.

The attack occurred shortly before other worshippers were scheduled to arrive for prayers. Investigators reported that Olivier A. had been seen entering the mosque and attacking Cissé with a knife, stabbing him multiple times while filming the assault with his mobile phone. During the filming, a voice resembling Olivier A.’s can be heard exclaiming, “I did it” along with insults directed at Allah.

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the incident, stating there is no room for religious hatred in France. Prime Minister François Bayrou described the stabbing as “Islamophobic,” highlighting growing concerns around anti-Muslim sentiment in the country.

The head of the French Muslim Council, Mohammed Moussaoui, stressed that many Muslims feel anti-Muslim hatred is not taken seriously. He called for increased efforts to combat such sentiments and questioned why an anti-terrorism investigation had not been initiated.

State prosecutor Abdelkrim Grini confirmed that Olivier A.’s actions suggest a “possible anti-Muslim or Islamophobic motive.” He noted that the suspect had no prior criminal record and had been living under the radar of the justice system. Grini added that the investigation is ongoing and further details about the suspect’s background indicate a possible fixation on violence.

Ibrahim Cissé, Aboubakar’s cousin, characterized the attack as terrorism, stating, “For us, Aboubakar is the victim of a terrorist attack.” The suspect’s defense attorney, Giovanni Salvietti, claimed that Olivier A. does not harbor anti-Muslim sentiments and said he had no intention of targeting Islam specifically.

In La Grand-Combe, more than 1,000 people participated in a silent march in honor of Cissé, departing from the Khadidja mosque to the town hall. Protests against Islamophobia also took place in Paris and other cities, displaying solidarity with the victim’s family and the Muslim community in France.

President Macron expressed his condolences to Cissé’s family and reiterated that such acts of hatred and racism have no place in France. The government has since increased security measures around mosques nationwide to ensure the safety of worshippers.