Italian police capture suspect in deadly Islamophobic attack at French mosque

The suspect in the Islamophobic murder at a mosque in La-Grand-Combe, France, has been arrested in the Italian city of Pistoia and is currently awaiting extradition to France.

The man, identified as Olivier H., is suspected of carrying out the brutal attack at the Hatice Mosque on April 25, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Local prosecutors are considering classifying the incident as a terrorist act, reflecting the severity of the crime. French Prime Minister François Bayrou condemned the attack as an "Islamophobic atrocity," with widespread outrage across the political spectrum in France.

Many political figures have expressed their condemnation of the attack, calling for swift justice. The French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) also condemned the attack, calling it an "anti-Islamic terrorist attack." The CFCM criticised initial media reports that labelled the incident as a "dispute between two Muslims," noting that the Islamophobic aspect of the crime was downplayed in early coverage.

In light of these troubling developments, the CFCM urged the Muslim community in France to remain vigilant and alert to the possibility of further attacks. The tragic murder occurred around 8:30 (GMT+2) when the assailant attacked 24-year-old Aboubakar Cisse, a Muslim worshipper, during prayer at the mosque.

Aboubakar was reportedly stabbed 40 to 50 times. Disturbingly, the attacker filmed the murder on his mobile phone and uploaded the video to social media, further shocking the public and intensifying the outcry.

By Naila Huseynova