After the attack in front of the former seat of the satirical newspaper „Charlie Hebdo“ in Paris, the main suspect confessed to the crime. The man arrested after the attack took „responsibility for his act,“ it said today from investigative circles. As a motive he named the republication of controversial Mohammed caricatures by “Charlie Hebdo”, which he “couldn’t stand”.
In front of the former headquarters of the „Charlie Hebdo“ editorial office, an attacker attacked two journalists from an agency yesterday with a cleaver and seriously injured them. A short time later, the main suspect was arrested near the crime scene. According to his own statements, he is 18 years old and comes from Pakistan.
More men in police custody
In addition to the main suspect, there were six other men in police custody. An Algerian who was initially arrested was released during the night because, according to the investigation, he had nothing to do with the attack.
France’s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin had classified the act as an Islamist act of terrorism. The terror network Al-Qaeda had previously threatened an attack because of the republication of controversial Mohammed cartoons by “Charlie Hebdo”.
In the attack on the satirical newspaper in 2015, two Islamists murdered twelve people, among them some of the most famous cartoonists in France. The trial against possible backers is currently underway in Paris. On this occasion, “Charlie Hebdo” had republished the controversial Mohammed cartoons and triggered angry protests in predominantly Muslim countries.
