Man killed at Paris airport planned to 'die for Allah' - prosecutor

[rooster59]

Man killed at Paris airport planned to 'die for Allah' - prosecutor

By Gus Trompiz and Emmanuel Jarry

 

Police investigators at the scene of a shooting near the northern Paris suburb of Stains, France, March 18, 2017. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

 

PARIS (Reuters) - A man shot dead by French soldiers at Paris Orly airport on Saturday shouted he was there to "die for Allah" and tried to seize a soldier's assault rifle, apparently intending to open fire on passengers, a prosecutor said.

The latest in a series of attacks in France forced the evacuation of France's second-busiest airport and thrust security back to the forefront of France's presidential election campaign.

The attacker, named as Ziyed Ben Belgacem, arrived at Orly airport on Saturday morning, threw down a bag containing a can of petrol and seized hold of a woman air force member who was part of a military patrol at the airport, Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said.

Using the servicewoman as a shield, he put his air pistol to her head and shouted at other soldiers with her: "Put down your guns. Put your hands on your head. I am here to die for Allah. In any case, there will be deaths."

The other soldiers then shot and killed Belgacem.

Molins said the assailant, who tried to grab the woman's Famas assault rifle, seemed bent on carrying out a serious attack.

"Given the violence that is shown in the (CCTV) pictures ... you sense that he was determined to go through with it," Molins told a news conference. "Everything leads one to believe he wanted to seize the Famas so that there were deaths and then to fire at people."

On his body, police found a Koran and 750 euros in cash. At his home, they found several grams of cocaine, a machete and some foreign currency, Molins said.

Prosecutors are investigating a number of terrorism-related offences, including attempted murder.

Belgacem's choice of target and evidence that he had been radicalised justified launching a terrorism investigation, Molins said.

Belgacem's father, brother and a cousin are in police custody, Molins said.

ON THE RADAR

Belgacem, 39, was already on the authorities' radar. They spotted him as a radicalised Muslim when he served a prison term several years ago for drug-trafficking.

Several hours earlier, Belgacem shot and wounded a police officer with his air pistol after a routine traffic stop north of Paris before fleeing, officials said.

After the first incident, Belgacem called his father and brother saying he had done something stupid, the prosecutor said.

Later he entered a bar in Vitry-sur-Seine on the other side of Paris and opened fire with his air gun without hitting anyone. He also stole a car before arriving at the airport.

More than 230 people have died in France in the past two years at the hands of attackers allied to the militant Islamist group Islamic State, whose strongholds in Syria and Iraq are being bombed by an international coalition including France.

These include coordinated bombings and shootings in November 2015 in Paris when 130 people were killed and scores injured.

With the country in the throes of a highly-charged election campaign before a two-round presidential election in April and May, the attacks will fuel the political debate.

Conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon said in a video message that France was in a "situation of virtual civil war" and there was no justification for lifting a state of emergency in place since the November 2015 attacks, after the justice minister said this week conditions were in place for lifting it.

Far-right-wing candidate Marine Le Pen, running on an anti-immigration, anti-EU ticket, said the death of the Orly airport attacker, who she said was a multiple repeat offender, had averted a "possible massacre".

"Our government is overwhelmed, stunned, paralysed like a rabbit in the headlights," she told an election rally.

One witness, who gave only his first name of Dominique, said he saw a man seize the woman soldier by the arm at the airport and take hold of her weapon.

"We ran off, down the staircase. Afterwards, we heard two shots," he told BFM TV.

Flights from Orly were suspended for several hours after the incident.

Prince William, second-in-line to the British throne, and his wife Kate, who finished a two-day visit to Paris on Saturday stuck to their plans despite the attack.

President Francois Hollande said the case had shown the need for the "Sentinelle" security operation brought in after 2015 attacks. The soldiers involved were patrolling the airport as part of the "Sentinelle" operation.

Last month, Egyptian Abdullah Reda al-Hamahmy, 29, was shot and seriously wounded near the Louvre museum when he launched himself at a group of soldiers, crying out "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest).

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-03-19

[Ramen087]

Love the comments by the French Government Attorney. No bull****, just the straight story. A very no-nonsense account of what happened and why. Leaves the political correctness to others. Bravo. Sad the man met his end this way, but he left those who keep order no choice but to use deadly force.

Edited March 19, 2017 by metisdead
Bold font removed.

[SiamBeast]

The religion of peace strikes again.

[daveAustin]

Found cocaine at this house? Oh dear. That's a no no, boy. Methinks you won't be spending any time with your allah. You might, however, end up being marmalised by that dodgy dude with the pitchfork if you've been brainwashed enough to believe in the former. Good riddance.

[impulse]

56 minutes ago, SiamBeast said:

The religion of peace strikes again.

 

Meanwhile, millions of Euro Muslims quietly lived their lives- a lot like you and I do- and didn't bother anyone on that same day.

[brucec64]

 
Meanwhile, millions of Euro Muslims quietly lived their lives- a lot like you and I do- and didn't bother anyone on that same day.

And millions of non muslims quietly lived their lives, with the difference being that 0 tried to commit mass murder in the name of their religion on that same day.

Sent from my SM-J710F using Thaivisa Connect mobile app

[impulse]

2 minutes ago, brucec64 said:

And millions of non muslims quietly lived their lives, with the difference being that 0 tried to commit mass murder in the name of their religion on that same day.

 

I'm not sure how to respond to someone who would judge an entire group of millions by the actions of an individual.  Not within forum decorum anyway.

[portroyal]

A true info at least !

you give the name of the attacker

The main french info channel doesn't disclose it... funny isn'it ?

they speak of a "french man who was 39y old"

[Grouse]

Not much wisdom on this thread! The army did their job, BUT you really don't want women in front line roles IMHO.

[Bluespunk]

A man shot dead by French soldiers at Paris Orly airport on Saturday shouted he was there to "die for Allah"

 

And he got his wish.

 

 

[jollyhangmon]

> ... shouted he was there to "die for Allah" ... < 

 

Well, mission accomplished then, dumb daeshy!

What a loser ... 

[stevenl]

53 minutes ago, portroyal said:

A true info at least !

you give the name of the attacker

The main french info channel doesn't disclose it... funny isn'it ?

they speak of a "french man who was 39y old"

That old chestnut again.

 

Just to please you I just checked, and guess what, on the first French news outlet I checked, le Figaro, it says " Une fois à Orly, Zyed Ben Belgacem ".

[sanukjim]

5 hours ago, Ramen087 said:

Love the comments by the French Government Attorney. No bull****, just the straight story. A very no-nonsense account of what happened and why. Leaves the political correctness to others. Bravo. Sad the man met his end this way, but he left those who keep order no choice but to use deadly force.

Good reaction by The French soldiers and it was NOT a sad think that the Axxhole Muslim had to go this way.Let them all that want to (Die for alla) die.I will donate several rounds of 30/06 to help them out in their endeavors.

[metisdead]

An off topic obfuscation post about the RTP has been removed as well as the nonsense replies. 

[carken]

hopefully those who wish to " die for Allah "

can be swiftly and quickly granted their wish

by those who wish to live

[i claudius]

Watched the BBC reporting,very P C said they were not certain that it was anything to do with his converting to Islam. What a load of tosh ,

Sent from my ASUS_T00J using Tapatalk

[i claudius]

And millions of non muslims quietly lived their lives, with the difference being that 0 tried to commit mass murder in the name of their religion on that same day.

Sent from my SM-J710F using Thaivisa Connect mobile app

And millions do nothing but stand by and let them get away with murder,just the odd few stand up against them ,from the rest ,the silence is deafening

Sent from my ASUS_T00J using Tapatalk

[simple1]

18 minutes ago, i claudius said:

And millions do nothing but stand by and let them get away with murder,just the odd few stand up against them ,from the rest ,the silence is deafening

Sent from my ASUS_T00J using Tapatalk
 

Your never ending repeated vilification of Muslims in general, misinformation regards the BBC etc, etc are rants and in breach of forum rules. 

 

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39314250

 

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39318591.

Edited March 19, 2017 by simple1

[Ramen087]

5 hours ago, sanukjim said:

Good reaction by The French soldiers and it was NOT a sad thing that the Axxhole Muslim had to go this way.Let them all that want to (Die for alla) die.I will donate several rounds of 30/06 to help them out in their endeavors.

While I obviously back the use of deadly force in this case, I would much prefer the use of it not have to be used...which means I hope this radical deathwish ends as soon as possible. Compassion in the non radical portion of humanity means something...and should always be kept in mind. 

[Jonmarleesco]

'A man shot dead by French soldiers at Paris Orly airport on Saturday shouted he was there to "die for Allah"'

 

Well, he got his wish. Probably now in Hades, wishing he hadn't been so naive as to believe the nonsense about the 72 virgins. 

[jerojero]

Good for him! Allah is surely satisfied. Other than the wacko wanted to kill innocent others...

[rodney earl]

I wonder if he got his ....... virgins. ha ha!!!

 

[simple1]

2 hours ago, rodney earl said:

I wonder if he got his ....... virgins. ha ha!!!

 

Doubt it - the guy has been tested positive for drugs and alcohol

[the guest]

Hopefully the EU will have the sense to wakeup and throw out these 'rag heads'.