Police officers attacked in Cannes: three individuals arrested in the entourage of the aggressor

Published on : 11/09/2021 – 4:35 PM

Something new for investigators. Three people from the entourage of the perpetrator of the knife attack on a police crew in front of the Cannes police station (Alpes-Maritimes) were arrested, AFP learned on Tuesday (November 9) from sources familiar with the matter. and policewoman.

“These are relatives, one of the people worked for him and another housed him,” said a police source, adding that the assailant owned “a small masonry business”.

“We are trying to understand the motivations of the perpetrator,” said this police source, confirming information from France Bleu Azur.

An investigation for an assassination attempt has been opened since Monday by the Grasse prosecutor who, contacted by AFP, did not comment on these custody.

The “neutralized” aggressor

At 6.30 a.m. on Monday, a 37-year-old Algerian national stabbed two of the four police officers in a police vehicle. They were not injured, protected by their bulletproof vests. The attack took place in a parking lot at the Cannes police station. The crew was preparing to go on patrol when it was attacked by the man, according to the first elements of the investigation.

A first policeman was repeatedly hit with the weapon. Going around the vehicle, the assailant then attacked another policewoman, also stabbing her several times.

According to the Grasse public prosecutor’s office, the attacker was finally “neutralized” by a third police officer who fired. A fourth policeman in the cockpit fired through the window of the vehicle.

“Reached twice”, the attacker was transported to the Nice hospital center and taken care of by a surgical team. His life-threatening prognosis was no longer engaged on Monday evening, said the Grasse prosecutor’s office, which is responsible for the investigation. The national anti-terrorism prosecution did not seize, but has an observer role at this stage.

With AFP