He claimed he wanted to die as a martyr. A 30-year-old schizophrenic man armed with two knives attacked police officers in the Var region. The events, reported by BFM TV on Tuesday March 7, took place on the evening of the previous day. As the news channel reported, citing a police source, the Tunisian man, who was known to the police, was arrested after he barricaded himself in his house in the commune of Hyères with his ten-year-old son. The municipal police officers turned to their colleagues from the national police after they spotted the man shouting “Allah Akbar” from his window.
The police officers of the Brigade Anti-Criminalité (BAC) mobilised at the spot tried to talk to the person from outside, the broadcaster continues to report. Fearing that the man’s son was in danger, the police officers decided to enter the flat. Immediately, the man – who was armed with two knives – lunged at them. According to BFMTV, the 30-year-old allegedly shouted, “We will die as martyrs”. He then tried to stab two officers, who were injured on their fingers. After he was overpowered, he was taken to a psychiatric hospital. The little boy was unharmed and was placed in the care of his family.
At the end of December, we reported on a report in the newspaper L’Indépendant about similar incidents in the municipality of Perpignan (Pyrénées-Orientales). According to the report, a 30-year-old man had threatened his neighbours from his balcony, shouting “Allah Akbar”. He was then arrested by officers of the BAC.