A 23-year-old Afghan national has been indicted for attempted murder after stabbing a female jogger in the throat in the French city of Reims on New Year’s Eve.
The attack occurred at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Saturday at rue René-de-Bovis when the assailant, dressed in a traditional Arabic djellaba, reportedly “threw himself on the 34-year-old and screamed in a foreign language,” reported French news site Actu 17.
Passers-by attempted to intervene, causing the attacker to flee the scene, but he was arrested shortly after by police officers scrambling to the area.
The female victim suffered an injury to her throat and was hospitalized as a result of the attack; however, follow-up reports reveal her injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
“The person is still in custody for attempted murder,” Reims public prosecutor, Matthieu Bourrette, told French newspaper Le Figaro. “The young woman’s life is not in danger,” he added.
The 23-year-old foreign national arrived in France three years ago and was not previously known to police. He possesses a residence permit, which is valid until Jan. 26, 2023.
While in custody, the suspect claimed to suffer from headaches and alleged he could not remember the attack; this prompted a psychiatric examination, which did not detect anything that could reasonably justify any extenuating circumstances.
An investigation into the incident continues; authorities from the department of Marne are in charge.