Murder at a Mosque in the Gard: Suspect Surrenders in Italy, Judicial Investigation Opened

After a three-day manhunt, the main suspect in the murder of Aboubakar Cissé, which occurred on Friday, April 25, at the La Grand-Combe mosque (Gard), has surrendered to Italian authorities. Olivier A., a 21-year-old Frenchman born in Lyon and previously unknown to police and judicial services, turned himself in on Sunday evening around 11 p.m. at the Pistoia police station, northwest of Florence, accompanied by a relative and a lawyer, confirmed Abdelkrim Grini, the prosecutor of Alès.

Arrest in Italy, Extradition Underway

Actively pursued by around fifty police officers and twenty gendarmes, Olivier A. had initially evaded capture in the Hérault region before fleeing toward Italy, a direction investigators had anticipated. An extradition procedure was immediately launched to bring him back to France as soon as possible.

Crime Claimed in a Video

The young man is suspected of having stabbed Aboubakar Cissé, a Malian worshipper, dozens of times at the Khadidja mosque. He allegedly filmed the attack and posted a video claiming responsibility, in which he praised his actions and hurled insults at the Muslim faith. He also expressed a desire to become a serial killer by targeting additional victims.

Although the national anti-terrorist prosecutor’s office has not been seized, the Alès prosecutor stated that an investigating judge would be appointed to clarify “the true motivations behind the act,” emphasizing that “the possibility of an anti-Muslim attack is not at all being ruled out.”

Strong Emotion in La Grand-Combe and Paris

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau praised on X (formerly Twitter) “the great determination and professionalism” of the investigators and magistrates, noting that “every possible resource” had been mobilized for a swift arrest.

In La Grand-Combe, emotions remain high. More than a thousand people took part in a white march on Sunday between the Khadidja mosque and the town hall to honor the memory of Aboubakar Cissé. In Paris, several hundred people also gathered in the early evening to show their support, including several political figures.