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Strasbourg stabbing: Jewish man stabbed in France by attacker shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A Jewish man has been stabbed in France by an attacker heard shouting “Allahu Akbar” in the latest attack to shake the country. | A Jewish man has been stabbed in France by an attacker heard shouting “Allahu Akbar” in the latest attack to shake the country. |
The victim, Chalom Levy, was taken to hospital after the assault in Strasbourg on Friday morning and is expected to make a full recovery. | The victim, Chalom Levy, was taken to hospital after the assault in Strasbourg on Friday morning and is expected to make a full recovery. |
Police arrested the attacker at the scene and were holding him in custody while investigating his motives. | Police arrested the attacker at the scene and were holding him in custody while investigating his motives. |
Mendel Samama, a local rabbi and good friend of Mr Levy, told The Independent the 62-year-old victim was wearing a Jewish kippa when he was targeted. | Mendel Samama, a local rabbi and good friend of Mr Levy, told The Independent the 62-year-old victim was wearing a Jewish kippa when he was targeted. |
“He had been shopping for Shabbat [the Jewish day of rest on Saturday] and he was walking back home when it happened, on the corner right by his house,” Mr Samama said. | “He had been shopping for Shabbat [the Jewish day of rest on Saturday] and he was walking back home when it happened, on the corner right by his house,” Mr Samama said. |
“He was stabbed once and the guy shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’, and when he took the knife out to stab him again he ran away. | “He was stabbed once and the guy shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’, and when he took the knife out to stab him again he ran away. |
“I don’t know how he had the power but he managed to run to a bar. I think it saved his life.” | “I don’t know how he had the power but he managed to run to a bar. I think it saved his life.” |
The bar staff barricaded the doors and called the emergency services while helping Mr Levy. | The bar staff barricaded the doors and called the emergency services while helping Mr Levy. |
He has been taken to hospital to be treated for a stab wound to his abdomen, which missed any vital organs. | He has been taken to hospital to be treated for a stab wound to his abdomen, which missed any vital organs. |
After visiting his friend, Mr Samama said: “He’s in shock, when I spoke to him he was crying. He told me he thinks it’s a miracle, he told me ‘I think God saved me today’.” | After visiting his friend, Mr Samama said: “He’s in shock, when I spoke to him he was crying. He told me he thinks it’s a miracle, he told me ‘I think God saved me today’.” |
The suspect, said to be mentally ill, is believed to be known to police in relation to another attack on a Jewish victim in 2010. | The suspect, said to be mentally ill, is believed to be known to police in relation to another attack on a Jewish victim in 2010. |
Mr Samama said the man had recently been held in a psychiatric hospital and that Mr Levy’s family were demanding to know why he had been freed. | Mr Samama said the man had recently been held in a psychiatric hospital and that Mr Levy’s family were demanding to know why he had been freed. |
He described Mr Levy as a gentle man who “loves taking care of people”. | He described Mr Levy as a gentle man who “loves taking care of people”. |
The grandfather lives with his wife in Strasbourg and is retired, having formerly worked at a local factory. | The grandfather lives with his wife in Strasbourg and is retired, having formerly worked at a local factory. |
“He is a very quiet man, a gentle man – he is the type of person you would love to have in your family or in your community,” Mr Samama said. | |
Judicial police are investigating the suspected anti-Semitic attack, which came in Strasbourg’s Jewish quarter at around 11.45am local time (10.45am BST). | |
Officers have not confirmed any motive or possible link with foreign terrorist groups. | Officers have not confirmed any motive or possible link with foreign terrorist groups. |
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which raised tensions after a series of stabbings and attempted killings by Isis supporters elsewhere in France and Europe. | There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which raised tensions after a series of stabbings and attempted killings by Isis supporters elsewhere in France and Europe. |