In late morning on 4 April 2020, a knife attack occurred in Romans-sur-Isère, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France, resulting in the death of two people and the wounding of five others.[2] The attacker, Abdallah Ahmed-Osman, a 33-year old Sudanese refugee, was charged with terrorist crimes.
| 2020 Romans-sur-Isère knife attack | |
|---|---|
| Part of Islamic terrorism in Europe | |
| Location | Romans-sur-Isère, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France |
| Coordinates | 45°02′47″N 05°03′06″E / 45.04639°N 5.05167°E |
| Date | 4 April 2020 10:45 a.m. CET |
| Target | Civilians |
| Weapons | Knife |
| Deaths | 2 |
| Injured | 5 |
| Perpetrator | Abdallah Ahmed-Osman |
| Motive | Jihadism (Islamic terrorism) [1] |
Attack
editThe attacker entered a tobacco shop, where he stabbed the two owners and a customer, wounding them; he went on to a butcher's shop, where he stole a knife and killed a customer. He then killed another man, the owner of a local theatre who died shielding his twelve-year-old son, and then wounded two people waiting in line outside a bakery.[3]
The suspect was a 33-year-old Sudanese man who had obtained refugee status and a 10-year visa in 2017.[4][5] According to Arabic-speaking witnesses, he shouted "Allah Akbar" when he launched his attack and, at the time of his arrest, kneeled down and recited the Shahada, the Muslim profession of faith.[6] A terrorism investigation was launched. Searches at his home revealed handwritten notes complaining about living in a "country of disbelievers".[7] On 8 April, he was indicted for "assassinations and attempted assassinations in connection with a terrorist group".[8]
The attack occurred during the national lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic in France.[9][10]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 June 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Drôme. Attaque à Romans : Abdallah Ahmed-Osman placé en détention provisoire à la prison de la Santé". www.ledauphine.com (in French). Archived from the original on 1 January 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
- ^ Poyet, Stanislas (5 April 2020). "Attaque de Romans-sur-Isère : les deux hommes tués s'appelaient Thierry et Julien". Le Figaro.fr (in French). Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ^ "Attaque au couteau de Romans-sur-Isère. La thèse terroriste ne fait pas de doute". actu.fr (in French). Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ^ "Attaque de Romans-sur-Isère : le point sur l'enquête". sudouest.fr (in French). 5 April 2020.
- ^ "Attaque au couteau à Romans-sur-Isère : ce que l'on sait de l'assaillant et des possibles raisons de son geste". France Bleu (in French). 4 April 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ^ "Attaque de Romans-sur-Isère : les premiers éléments de l'enquête". L'Obs (in French). 4 April 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ^ "Attaque au couteau à Romans-sur-Isère : l'assaillant mis en examen, indique le parquet national antiterroriste". LaProvence.com (in French). 8 April 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ^ Figaro, Le (4 April 2020). "Attaque à Romans-sur-Isère : le parquet national antiterroriste se saisit". Le Figaro.fr (in French). Retrieved 5 April 2020.
- ^ "France knife attack leaves two dead". BBC News. 4 April 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.