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Second Normandy attacker was on security register Police were warned of Normandy attack but lacked details to act
(about 3 hours later)
French police have named the second Normandy hostage-taker who appeared in an Islamic State video released after the murder of a Catholic priest as Abdel Malik Nabil Petitjean. French police were warned that the second Normandy hostage-taker was planning an attack four days before the murder of a Catholic priest but were unable to identify him.
The 19-year-old from Aix-les-Bains in the Savoie region of eastern France was put on the Fiche S (S List) security register less than a month ago for attempting to travel to Syria, but had no criminal record. France’s security services said they had received an alert from abroad and a photograph of an individual – later identified as Abdel Malik Nabil Petitjean – but had no idea of his name or where and when he would strike. As a result, they were unable to link the information to the 19-year-old from Aix-les-Bains in the Savoie region of eastern France who was put on the Fiche S (S List) security register less than a month ago for attempting to travel to Syria.
About 10,000 people in France are on the S List, most of them alleged religious extremists. France’s intelligence services claimed the Turkish authorities, who picked up Petitjean on his way to Syria, did not inform them of his arrest for 15 days, by which time, unknown to them, he had slipped through the net and already returned to France.
Malik was identified as the subject of a mysterious tip-off from abroad last week that a “person already on French soil” was planning an attack. The alert and a photograph of the unknown suspect was circulated to police and security forces across the country, but without any name or details. About 10,000 people in France are on the S List, most of them alleged religious extremists, but officials say it is impossible to keep a close eye on each one.
Malik was on Thursday identified as the subject of the mysterious tip-off from abroad that a “person already on French soil” was planning an attack.
On Tuesday, Petitjean and Abed Kermiche, 19, took six people hostage at the church in Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray near Rouen in Normandy, where they slit the throat of 86-year-old Father Jacques Hamel, and stabbed a parishioner. The teenage attackers were shot by police as they left the church.On Tuesday, Petitjean and Abed Kermiche, 19, took six people hostage at the church in Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray near Rouen in Normandy, where they slit the throat of 86-year-old Father Jacques Hamel, and stabbed a parishioner. The teenage attackers were shot by police as they left the church.
Petitjean’s identity card was found in Kermiche’s home. Telephone records suggest the pair only met recently, implying the attack was carried out on external orders. Apparently, three days before the incident, French intelligence received information “from abroad”, with a photo of an unnamed man said to be planning an attack on French soil. Petitjean’s identity card was found in Kermiche’s home. Telephone records suggest the pair only met recently, implying the attack was carried out on external orders.
The photo was circulated to all police and security forces, but with no details there was a little time to act. It took a while after the Normandy attack for police to definitively put the faceless attacker, the photo and the identity card together. A video on a mobile telephone, found during a search of another S List suspect, showed a young man resembling Petitjean declaring his allegiance to Islamic State but police were reportedly unable to identify him. It took a while after the Normandy attack for police to definitively put the attacker – who had been shot in the face by police – the photograph sent from abroad and the identity card together.
Despite Petitjean’s identity being confirmed by DNA tests, his mother Yamina refused believe her son was involved. Before Petitjean’s identity was confirmed by DNA tests, his mother Yamina refused to believe her son was involved. “No, no, no. It’s impossible. I know my son, he’s kind. I haven’t created a devil,” she told BFMTV. “He never talked about Islamic State ... we are positive people, we talk about good things ... he’s my baby.”
“No, no, no. It’s impossible. I know my son, he’s kind. I haven’t created a devil,” she told BFMTV. “He never talked about Islamic State ... we are positive people, we talk about good things ... he’s my baby.” She insisted her son, who recently passed a CAP (professional aptitude certificate) in sales, was staying with a cousin in Nancy, but admitted either she nor her 17-year-old daughter had heard from him since Monday evening. “Everyone around here knows my son. He’s a good boy. Calm,” she told RTL radio.
She insisted her son was staying in Nancy with a cousin, but admitted she had not heard from him since Monday evening.
Three of Petitjean’s relatives were being questioned by police and the family home has been searched. Investigators insisted there was no evidence the three were in any way connected to the attack.Three of Petitjean’s relatives were being questioned by police and the family home has been searched. Investigators insisted there was no evidence the three were in any way connected to the attack.
Petitjean was picked up in Turkey on 10 June, but the French authorities said they were only informed about it 15 days later, and blamed the Turkish authorities for allowing him to slip through the net. The security services put him on the S List on 29 June and alerted French border authorities to pick him up when he returned to France. But by this time, the teenager was already back in the country.Petitjean was picked up in Turkey on 10 June, but the French authorities said they were only informed about it 15 days later, and blamed the Turkish authorities for allowing him to slip through the net. The security services put him on the S List on 29 June and alerted French border authorities to pick him up when he returned to France. But by this time, the teenager was already back in the country.
In Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray, the prefect planned a silent march to honour Father Hamel. In Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray, the prefect banned a silent march to honour Father Hamel, for security reasons, but allowed mourners to gather at the local sports stadium.