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French govt: Killing of policeman and companion near Paris was ‘terrorist attack’ French govt: Killing of policeman & companion near Paris was ‘terrorist attack’
(35 minutes later)
The killing of a police officer and his partner in the town of Magnanville, 50km from Paris, on Monday evening was “a terrorist attack,” a French government spokesman has said. The killing of a police officer and his partner in the town of Magnanville, 50km from Paris, on Monday evening was “a terrorist attack,” French government said. Earlier media reports suggested that the attacker was sentenced on terrorism-related charges in 2013.
“I am thinking of those who knew these two police officers and this child found by RAID [an elite police unit] after the assault,” French government spokesman Stéphane Le Foll said, adding that the incident is “a great tragedy.” Forty-two year-old police officer Jean-Baptiste Salvaing was stabbed at least nine times, and his partner was also killed. The attacker was identified by the media as 25-year-old French citizen Larossi Abballa.
French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve described the Magnanville killings as an “abject act of terrorism,” as cited by French RTL radio. “I am thinking of those who knew these two police officers and this child found by RAID [an elite police unit] after the assault,” French government spokesman Stéphane Le Foll said, as cited by RTL radio. He added that the incident was “a great tragedy.”
The attack in small town of Magnanville, 50km from Paris, took place on Monday evening. The man, whom later media identified as Larossi Abballa, killed a 42-year-old police officer named Jean-Baptiste Salvaing by stabbing him at least nine times. He also killed the officer’s partner. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve described the Magnanville killings as an “abject act of terrorism.” He was speaking after an emergency meeting with French President Francois Hollande and Justice Minister Jean-Jacques Urvoas.
READ MORE: Magnanville attack: ISIS claims link to Paris suburb stabber who killed police officer & his wife
The attacker, reportedly the officer’s neighbor, shouted “Allah u Akbar,” Le Parisien cited witnesses as saying.The attacker, reportedly the officer’s neighbor, shouted “Allah u Akbar,” Le Parisien cited witnesses as saying.
Unconfirmed reports have emerged suggesting that the attacker might have links to Islamic State (IS, ISIS/ISIL). The couple’s son, who was also taken hostage by the suspect, was rescued by RAID.
DETAILS TO FOLLOW Unconfirmed reports have emerged suggesting that the attacker might have links to Islamic State (IS, ISIS/ISIL). Islamic State's Amaq news agency cited its source as saying that the assailant was a member of their group.
Assailant who stabbed a French police officer and his wife late Monday has been identified as 25-year-old French citizen Larossi Abballa, BMF TV reported. The man was reportedly accused of recruiting would-be jihadists in France for carrying out attacks in Pakistan.
Abballa was allegedly a resident of the town of Mantes-la-Jolie about 50km north from Paris. BFMTV claimed that Abballa opened a restaurant in the town in 2015. Both victims of the attack were previously stationed in Mantes-la-Jolie where the suspect lived, the channel added, citing its sources.
According to the channel, Abballa was previously known to French authorities for theft, violence and radicalization. 
The suspect was sentenced on terrorism charges in 2013. The report at the time in Le Figaro newspaper mentions a certain Larossi Abballa, 22, who was convicted along with seven jihadists. They were sentenced for “conspiracy to prepare terrorist acts”, recruiting would-be jihadists in France, physical and ideological training in Pakistan and sending young volunteers to armed jihad, according to the paper. 
Le Figaro then reported that Abballa was sentenced to three years in prison, and also received a six-month suspended sentence and probation for two years. It is not yet clear how long he eventually spent in prison.