Paris: A jihadist involved in the brutal killing of an elderly priest pledged to attack France in a newly released video, as Catholic bishops called for a day of prayer in a nation shaken by the latest assault.
Advertisement
The attack was claimed by the Islamic State group, which released a video Wednesday allegedly showing Kermiche and his accomplice clasping hands and pledging allegiance to the group.
Kermiche had twice attempted to reach Syria to join Isis when he appeared before an investigating judge earlier this year, it emerged on Wednesday.
A gathering this weekend to honor victims of the Nice attack was canceled Thursday after authorities said law enforcement was too busy protecting against threats.
A source close to the investigation said Petitjean was not known to French security services until a tipoff from Turkish authorities.
Police discovered an ID card belonging to Petitjean in Kermiche’s house but required DNA tests to verify his identity, since his body had been disfigured in the police shooting.
He had been on the “Fiche S” security watchlist since June 29 for becoming radicalized and for being a potential terrorist.
The New York Times article said France has had three major terrorists attacks in the last 19 months but did not mention that these were attacks were inspired by ISIS and radical Islam.
Police had no name, only a photograph, that appears to be of Petitjean, RTL radio said.
As the two attackers made to leave the church they were confronted by a French police unit specialising in hostage situations, the BRI, and shot dead.
“I hereby turn to President Francois Hollande and to Prime Minister Manuel Valls”.
Mohammed Karabila, imam of the mosque in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, said the two religious communities had close relations in the small suberb. He was forced to wear an electronic monitoring tag after he traveled overseas to try to fight in Syria, Molins said.
Petitjean, from eastern France had been on the French terror watch list.
The Normandy attack came as France was on high alert after the attack in Nice earlier this month which killed 84 people and a string of deadly attacks previous year claimed by ISIL.
The sources said that France’s anti-terrorism police unit UCLAT sent out a note four days before the attack – saying it had received “reliable” information about a person “about to carry out an attack on national territory”.
France remains on high alert after Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel ploughed a truck into a crowd of people celebrating Bastille Day in Nice, killing 84 people and injuring more than 300.
Advertisement
The Saint-Etienne church in the Normandy city of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray where a priest, Jacques Hamel, was killed.
