What we know about Abdoullakh Anzorov, the assailant of Samuel Paty

In the aftermath of Samuel Paty’s beheading in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, we know a little more about the perpetrator. Jean-François Ricard, national anti-terrorism prosecutor, gave more details on the journey of Abdoullakh Anzorov, who was shot dead by the police after the fact.

Of Russian nationality, he had a residence permit

Abdoullakh Anzorov was born in 2002 in Moscow. He was of Chechen origin and lived in Evreux, in the Eure region. In France, ” the
had a residence permit issued on March 4 and valid until March 2030 “, And” he enjoyed refugee status », Said Jean-François Ricard. His criminal record was clean, but he was known to the police for ” cases of degradation of public property and violence in meetings », Continued the prosecutor. The intelligence services did not know him.

He had not had any links with Moscow since 2008, noted the Russian embassy on Saturday, cited by Russian agencies. ” This crime has nothing to do with Russia, given that this individual had lived in France for 12 years and had been welcomed by the French side. », Said Sergei Parinov, a spokesperson for the Russian representation in Paris at the Tass agency.

In Evreux, in the Madeleine district, Abdoullakh Anzorov’s neighbors paint the portrait of a young man ” discreet », « immersed in religion ” for three years. It was ” a carefree youngster “, who ” was educated in Evreux up to high school and which did not show any warning signs of radicalization », Confirms a local elected official. ” There was no problem with this family ».

He is indeed the author of the claim on Twitter

According to the first accounts, “ the perpetrator was in front of the college during the afternoon, and had asked students to appoint him the future victim », Said Jean-François Ricard.

He is also the author of the claim posted on Twitter with the photo of the beheaded history professor. ” The investigations were able to confirm that it was indeed an account belonging to the perpetrator. », Declared Jean-François Ricard. The first exploitation of the attacker’s phone ” made it possible to find in the notepad the text of the claim, recorded at 12:17 p.m. as well as the photograph of the deceased victim, time-stamped at 4:57 p.m. “, he added.

He tried to stab the police officers

Abdoullakh Anzorov was shot dead by police when he ” ran in their direction, firing a handgun five times », Explained the prosecutor. According to his account, three policemen retaliated, causing the assailant to fall. ” As he tried to get up and stab the police officers, he was neutralized by the police “He said, indicating that his body had” nine bullet holes “.

The police found on him ” a dagger type knife, an Airsoft type handgun and five gas cartridges compatible with this weapon “. Otherwise, ” a second knife with a total length of 35 centimeters, bloodied, was discovered about thirty meters from the scene of the crime », Said Jean-François Ricard.

Who are the ten people in custody?

Among the nine people currently in police custody is the father of a student of the decapitated professor, who had notably called on social networks for the mobilization against the latter and his dismissal from the establishment after a course during which the teacher had shown caricatures of Muhammad.

« The half-sister of this man had joined the organization Islamic State in 2014 in Syria and she is, as such, the subject of a search warrant by an anti-terrorism investigating judge », Said Jean-François Ricard. A very active Islamist activist, Abdelhakim Sefrioui, is one of nine people in police custody. Arrested on Saturday in Evry with his partner, Abdelhakim Sefrioui had accompanied the father of the pupil in early October to the Bois d’Aulne college in Conflans-Saint-Honorine. A 10th person was placed on sight on Saturday evening.