AFP: attacked guards at the Eiffel tower the man wanted to commit a terrorist attack
According to the source Agency, during the interrogation, the detainee admitted that he had contact with a member of ISIS.
PARIS, 6 Aug. /TASS/. The Frenchman, who in the night of Sunday the attack on the guards at the Eiffel tower, told investigators that he intended to commit a terrorist act. This was reported by Agence France-Presse.
“During interrogation the man said that he intended to commit a terrorist act, killing the military. He also reported that he maintained contact with a member of the radical Islamist group “Islamic state” (IG, is prohibited in Russia)”, — said the Agency a source close to the investigation.
In connection with the detainee, the investigation transferred to the Department for combating terrorism, the Paris Prosecutor’s office.
It will be conducted on suspicion of forming a criminal group intending to commit criminal acts against the people. Also investigations will be aimed at investigating the attempted assassination of representative authorities.
The incident at the foot of the Eiffel tower took place on 5 August at about 23:30 CET (00:30 GMT 6 Aug). The suspect tried to break through checkpoint screening visitors. When he failed, he took out a knife and was going to attack the guards. A nearby military patrol disarmed and neutralized the man.
According to the first data of the investigation, the assailant is a French citizen born in Mauritania in 1998. He suffers from mental disorders and have already passed the course of treatment. From the hospital he was discharged in late July of this year.
On Sunday, the access of tourists to the Eiffel tower was resumed.