Jump directly to the content
HORROR IN FRANCE

Marseille train station attack: ‘ISIS knifeman’ was arrested the day before killing two female cousins but cop RELEASED him

AN ISIS knifeman who killed two cousins during a bloody attack in Marseille had been arrested by cops one day earlier - but was released.

The terror group said its "soldier" launched a frenzied knife rampage at Gare Saint Charles — while screaming "Allahu Akbar", according to witnesses.

Panic unfolded at Marseille's main station after a knifeman slit a woman's throat and stabbed another in the stomach
31
Panic unfolded at Marseille's main station after a knifeman slit a woman's throat and stabbed another in the stomach
Forensics officers inspect the knifeman's body outside Gare Saint Charles
31
Forensics officers inspect the knifeman's body outside Gare Saint CharlesCredit: Getty - Contributor
The attacker stabbed to death two women before he was shot by soldiers
31
The attacker stabbed to death two women before he was shot by soldiersCredit: Getty - Contributor
A forensic official works around a body covered by a white sheet outside Saint Charles station
31
A forensic official works around a body covered by a white sheet outside Saint Charles stationCredit: AP:Associated Press
Investigators inspect the body of the dead attacker that ISIS claims is one of its 'soldiers'
31
Investigators inspect the body of the dead attacker that ISIS claims is one of its 'soldiers'Credit: Getty - Contributor
Police work through the cordoned crime scene near the body of one of the stabbing victims
31
Police work through the cordoned crime scene near the body of one of the stabbing victimsCredit: Getty - Contributor

The man shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ as he murdered the 17-year-old student and 21-year-old nurse outside St-Charles station in the southern city of Marseille on Sunday afternoon.

Neither the man, who was aged between 30 and 35, nor his female victims have been formally identified but all have links with the city of Lyon, which is 250 miles north of Marseille.

Passengers were evacuated by armed police on Sunday afternoon after soldiers fatally shot the killer knifeman — a known criminal believed to be in his 30s.

Now it had emerged the attacker – who was a North African of either Algerian or Tunisian origin – was arrested in Lyon for shoplifting on Friday.
He had no papers on him and was in ‘an irregular situation in Europe’, so giving the authorities a chance to place him under judicial control.

French policemen turn over and hold the knife attacker, a known criminal who is believed to be in his 30s
31
French policemen turn over and hold the knife attacker, a known criminal who is believed to be in his 30sCredit: AFP or licensors
Police investigators work outside the Saint Charles train station after French soldiers shot and killed a knifeman
31
Police investigators work outside the Saint Charles train station after French soldiers shot and killed a knifemanCredit: AFP or licensors

"Instead they let him go, and the next they heard about him was in connection with a double murder,’ said an investigating source in Marseille."

A statement from the ISIS's propaganda agency said: "The executor of the stabbing operation in the city of Marseille... is from the soldiers of the Islamic State."

But French investigators have so far held back from declaring the attack in France's second city as terrorism — and ISIS have in the past claimed responsibility for killings that it had no hand in planning.

Witnesses have told of the traumatic moments the attacker pounced on the two women before charging at soldiers who opened fire, fatally wounding him.

"We heard two shots and saw people rushing down the stairs from the station", said Ninon Bornet, a chef a cafe beside the station told .

"We brought in all our customers, we barricaded ourselves in the restaurant".

Two women were stabbed to death outside the fcity's biggest station on Sunday
31
Two women were stabbed to death outside the fcity's biggest station on SundayCredit: AP:Associated Press
The area surrounding St Charles station has been cordoned off as forensics assess the scene
31
The area surrounding St Charles station has been cordoned off as forensics assess the sceneCredit: Reuters
The station was evacuated about 2pm on Sunday after an attacker allegedly screamed 'Allahu Akbar'
31
The station was evacuated about 2pm on Sunday after an attacker allegedly screamed 'Allahu Akbar'Credit: AFP or licensors
Emergency services and military swarmed the scene in the southern French city today
31
Emergency services and military swarmed the scene in the southern French city todayCredit: AFP or licensors

Another told of "the smell of gunfire" in the air moments after the attacker was felled by two soldiers as he charged at them.

"Outside the soldiers and plainclothes policemen held the crowd", said 29-year-old Arthur.

"Two policemen in bulletproof vests and armed with assault rifles screamed instructions before leaving very quickly".

"I heard someone shout 'Allahu Akbar' and I saw a man who seemed to be dressed all in black," Melanie Petit, an 18-year-old student, told AFP news agency.

Other travellers around the station described "controlled panic" as security forces evacuated passengers and looked for possible accomplices, while another witness said white sheets were placed over the bodies of the victims.

"There were police everywhere," said Francois Jacquel, a retired traveller who was in a waiting room.

Cops scrambled to the scene in southern France at around 2pm local time on Sunday, sparking an immediate mass evacuation.

Confirming the injuries and fatalities, Oliver de Mazieres, a local official, said: "Two victims have been stabbed to death".

Neither have yet been identified, but a police source said they were "in their 20s".

Armed police and soldiers lock down the area around the station
31
Armed police and soldiers lock down the area around the stationCredit: AFP or licensors
Travellers were prevented from entering the station as a cordon was set up in the wake of the attack
31
Travellers were prevented from entering the station as a cordon was set up in the wake of the attackCredit: Reuters
French soldiers shot the knifeman to death after two women were savagely killed
31
French soldiers shot the knifeman to death after two women were savagely killedCredit: AP:Associated Press
Local police confirmed two women were murdered during the afternoon onslaught
31
Local police confirmed two women were murdered during the afternoon onslaughtCredit: AP:Associated Press
Cops rushed to evacuate commuters out of the busy station in southern France
31
Cops rushed to evacuate commuters out of the busy station in southern FranceCredit: Zack Ismaili‏

"The attack was frenzied," said an investigating source. "The man first shouted threats, and then launched into the two women.

"The two were killed by a knife, and then soldiers on anti-terrorism duties intervened. They shot the man dead. At least one large butcher’s knife was used by the attacker."

The servicemen were deployed as part of Operation Sentinel, a wide-ranging security initiative that has flooded French streets with around 7,000 soldiers.

Police sources claimed the incident is likely to be a terror attack, although this is yet to be confirmed.

Locals were urged to stay away from the area, with the scene described as as a "major police incident".

"There was screaming and shouting, and people were running everywhere," said one witness.

"People were picking up children, and trying to help those who weren’t very good on their feet. They just wanted to get away."

Another female witness called Hajar told FranceInfo: "I heard two shots, that was what triggered the panic.

"People came out of a waiting room shouting 'Run! Don't stay in the station. Everybody outside.'

"I had just got to the station when everyone started running. People sitting on the terrace of a fast food restaurant came inside and shouted 'Run, get out! Then I saw a woman on the floor, they were giving her CPR."

Saint Charles station was evacuated and locked down within minutes of the attack
31
Saint Charles station was evacuated and locked down within minutes of the attackCredit: Reuters
Train passengers were blocked from entering the crime scene in Marseille
31
Train passengers were blocked from entering the crime scene in MarseilleCredit: Reuters
Officers guard a stairway towards the promenade around the station where the knifeman was shot
31
Officers guard a stairway towards the promenade around the station where the knifeman was shotCredit: AFP or licensors
A heavily armed security official parades the scene around Saint Charles station
31
A heavily armed security official parades the scene around Saint Charles stationCredit: AFP or licensors
Initial reports of gunshots and a roaming knifeman sparked a swift evacuation at Marseille train station
31
Initial reports of gunshots and a roaming knifeman sparked a swift evacuation at Marseille train stationCredit: Twitter
Passengers who were rushed out of the station look on as the scene unfolds
31
Passengers who were rushed out of the station look on as the scene unfoldsCredit: AP:Associated Press
French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb greeted emergency responders and spoke to the media outside the Saint-Charles train station
31
French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb greeted emergency responders and spoke to the media outside the Saint-Charles train stationCredit: Reuters

Anti-terror officials have launched an investigation into the "killings linked to a terrorist organisation".

President Emmanuel Macron said he was "deeply outraged" by the "barbarous" knife attack, while his prime minister Edouard Philippe praised the soldiers who shot the suspect and stopped the "killing frenzy".

French interior minister Gerard Collomb rushed to Marseille to liaise with authorities.

Speaking to reporters at the police cordon, he said video footage obtained by investigators showed the attacker knifing the two women before he charged at soldiers and was shot.

"This act could be terrorist in nature but at this time we cannot confirm that," he added.

The knife rampage comes as France is still on high alert following a string of deadly terror attacks which began in January 2015.

Before this incident, 239 people were killed by Islamist extremists over the last two years in France.

After the November 2015 terror attack, which unfolded at the Bataclan concert hall, then President Francois Hollande declared a state of emergency.

Security forces received increased power to use force and launch prompt anti-terror raids.

Crowds of shocked passengers gather near the scene on Sunday
31
Crowds of shocked passengers gather near the scene on SundayCredit: AP:Associated Press
Police instruct bystanders to stay back from the scene of the brutal knife attack
31
Police instruct bystanders to stay back from the scene of the brutal knife attackCredit: AP:Associated Press
Commuters are left waiting outside the station after their travel plans have been wrecked
31
Commuters are left waiting outside the station after their travel plans have been wreckedCredit: AP:Associated Press
Cops described the attack as a major police incident
31
Cops described the attack as a major police incidentCredit: Zack Ismaili‏
Officials examine the scene of the ambush which started around 2pm local time
31
Officials examine the scene of the ambush which started around 2pm local timeCredit: AP:Associated Press

There have also been a series of smaller onslaughts in France.

A knifeman attacked a soldier at a Paris Metro station last month, but he was swiftly arrested.

In August, a man driving a van killed a person and left another injured after he mowed a bus stop down in Marseille.

Sunday's incident comes days after Islamic State released a recording of a man they claimed was Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi - the terror network's leader - urging his followers to strike their Western enemies.

A French soldier continues to guard the station as emergency service workers help passengers
31
A French soldier continues to guard the station as emergency service workers help passengersCredit: AP:Associated Press
The area surrounding St Charles station has been cordoned off as forensics assess the scene
31
The area surrounding St Charles station has been cordoned off as forensics assess the sceneCredit: Reuters

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.

Topics
YOU MIGHT LIKE
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
MORE FOR YOU