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France shootings: Three victims shot in head France shootings: Three victims shot in head
(35 minutes later)
Three of four victims of a shooting in a car in the French Alps were shot in the head, a French prosecutor has said. Three of the four victims of a shooting in the French Alps were shot in the head, a French prosecutor has said.
One man, named by news agencies as Saad al-Hilli, from Surrey, an elderly woman and a French cyclist were shot in the head. Post-mortem examinations are being carried out. One man, named by news agencies as Saad al-Hilli from Surrey, and an elderly woman were found dead in a British-registered car. A French cyclist, found close to the scene, was also killed.
A British cyclist, an ex-RAF officer, discovered the scene near Lake Annecy.A British cyclist, an ex-RAF officer, discovered the scene near Lake Annecy.
A second woman was also killed. A girl, four, hid in the car for eight hours before being found by police.A second woman was also killed. A girl, four, hid in the car for eight hours before being found by police.
Annecy prosecutor Eric Maillaud said they were not looking for any more survivors.Annecy prosecutor Eric Maillaud said they were not looking for any more survivors.
"It was clearly an act of extreme savagery and it was obvious that who did this wanted to kill," he said."It was clearly an act of extreme savagery and it was obvious that who did this wanted to kill," he said.
The motive for the attack remains a mystery, he added.The motive for the attack remains a mystery, he added.
Another girl, found shot outside the car, has been transferred to a hospital in the city of Grenoble where she has been placed in a medially-induced coma. An automatic pistol was used, and the killer "targeted" the victims rather than indiscriminately firing into the car.
The girl - thought to be seven or eight years old - was shot three times, including in the shoulder, and had head fractures. "She suffered a violent attack," Mr Maillaud said. Another girl, found shot outside the car, has been transferred to a hospital in the city of Grenoble where she has been placed in a medically-induced coma. She was due to be operated on again.
The girl - thought to be seven or eight years old - was shot once, and had head fractures. "She suffered a violent attack," Mr Maillaud said.
"Whoever did this wanted to kill," he added.
Both girls were under police protection in hospital.
News agencies quoted sources as saying the dead driver was a 50-year-old man from Claygate, Surrey.News agencies quoted sources as saying the dead driver was a 50-year-old man from Claygate, Surrey.
Authorities have not confirmed this, saying only that they know who owns the car, and that the details matched the passport used to book a nearby campsite.Authorities have not confirmed this, saying only that they know who owns the car, and that the details matched the passport used to book a nearby campsite.
However, they could not match the driver's face with those details yet.However, they could not match the driver's face with those details yet.
Mr Maillaud also said Swedish and Iraqi passports had been recovered. Mr Maillaud also said Swedish and Iraqi passports had been recovered. The family had arrived on 3 September at the campsite and had expected to leave by the end of the week.
Police said the British cyclist was cycling along a road and saw a BMW with the engine still running. He saw the older girl walking near the car, about to faint. He helped her into a recovery position, and called firefighters. Mr Maillaud said the British cyclist was passing along a road and saw a BMW with the engine still running.
He saw the older girl collapsing in front of him, and helped her into a recovery position, then called firefighters.
He then discovered the other cyclist, who had overtaken him earlier, dead on the road. He broke the driver's window of the car, and saw three bodies inside.He then discovered the other cyclist, who had overtaken him earlier, dead on the road. He broke the driver's window of the car, and saw three bodies inside.
The younger daughter was concealed beneath her mother and was not even found until midnight. The younger daughter was concealed beneath her mother and was not found until midnight.
She spent Wednesday night in a psychiatric hospital. Police said they had spoken briefly to her. She spent Wednesday night in hospital, with a nurse by her side all night. Police said they had spoken briefly to her.
She was found "terrorised, motionless, in the midst of the bodies" after fellow campers at a nearby site told officers the family had two children, Mr Maillaud said. She was found "terrorised, motionless, in the midst of the bodies" after fellow guests at the campsite told officers the family had two children, Mr Maillaud said.
In the UK, Surrey Police have said they are assisting the French authorities and liaising with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) following the shooting.In the UK, Surrey Police have said they are assisting the French authorities and liaising with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) following the shooting.
"This is an ongoing investigation being carried out by the French police and we are unable to confirm any details about the incident," the Surrey force said in a statement."This is an ongoing investigation being carried out by the French police and we are unable to confirm any details about the incident," the Surrey force said in a statement.
The younger girl was initially not spotted inside the BMW estate car, as local police waited for the arrival of forensic scientists from Paris. It was not until 23:00 local time (21:00 GMT) that police found out from the family's neighbours at the campsite that the family had a second daughter, and launched a search involving a helicopter and police dogs, one report said.
It was not until 23:00 local time (21:00 GMT) that police found out from the family's neighbours at a nearby campsite that the family had a second daughter, and launched a search involving a helicopter and police dogs, one report said. Police had believed only one child was involved with the scene because only one child seat was found in the car.
The head of the investigation, Benoit Vinneman, said there were several reasons why the girl was not found earlier, according to Le Parisien newspaper: The investigators said there were several reasons why the youngest girl was not found earlier, including that police were told not to disturb the scene before the arrival of forensic investigators; and they did not want to compromise the ballistics investigation by opening the car doors because some of the windows had cracks made by the bullets.
  • Local police were told not to disturb the scene before the arrival of forensics
  • They did not want to compromise the ballistics investigation by opening the car doors because some of the windows had cracks made by the bullets
  • A helicopter with thermal imaging was also used, but did not detect the girl, who may have been concealed under the bodies
    •
Earlier reports said a helicopter with thermal imaging was also used, but did not detect the girl, who may have been concealed under the bodies.
Officials at the scene also tried to look through the car windows, but could not detect any movement.Officials at the scene also tried to look through the car windows, but could not detect any movement.
Some 15 spent cartridges from an automatic pistol were found at the crime scene. The dead French cyclist was identified as Sylvain Mollier. His wife contacted police after he failed to return from his ride.