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Louvre attack: 'My son is no terrorist', says suspect's father | Louvre attack: 'My son is no terrorist', says suspect's father |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The father of a suspected militant shot by French soldiers as he carried out a machete attack at the Louvre museum in Paris says his son is not a terrorist. | The father of a suspected militant shot by French soldiers as he carried out a machete attack at the Louvre museum in Paris says his son is not a terrorist. |
Retired police general Reda al-Hamamy said his son Abdullah "is a simple guy". | Retired police general Reda al-Hamamy said his son Abdullah "is a simple guy". |
The attacker, a 29-year-old Egyptian, was shot in the stomach while shouting "Allahu Akbar" ("God is greatest") on Friday. | The attacker, a 29-year-old Egyptian, was shot in the stomach while shouting "Allahu Akbar" ("God is greatest") on Friday. |
He is no longer in a critical condition, AFP news agency reports. | He is no longer in a critical condition, AFP news agency reports. |
However the police source cited by AFP said the man was still unable to communicate and could not be questioned. | However the police source cited by AFP said the man was still unable to communicate and could not be questioned. |
French officials have not confirmed the identity of the suspect, but Egyptian security sources have named him as Abdullah Reda al-Hamamy. | French officials have not confirmed the identity of the suspect, but Egyptian security sources have named him as Abdullah Reda al-Hamamy. |
Abdullah arrived in France on 26 January after obtaining a tourist visa in Dubai, Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said on Friday. | Abdullah arrived in France on 26 January after obtaining a tourist visa in Dubai, Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said on Friday. |
Police are trying to establish if he acted alone or under instructions, he added. | Police are trying to establish if he acted alone or under instructions, he added. |
Mr al-Hamamy, Abdullah's father, told Reuters news agency that his son had not been radicalised and labelling him a terrorist was "nonsense". | Mr al-Hamamy, Abdullah's father, told Reuters news agency that his son had not been radicalised and labelling him a terrorist was "nonsense". |
The incident at the Louvre occurred at the entrance of an underground shopping centre leading to the museum, home to the Mona Lisa and other celebrated works of art. | |
Hundreds of visitors were inside the museum at the time. The attack led to an evacuation, but the Louvre reopened on Saturday morning. | Hundreds of visitors were inside the museum at the time. The attack led to an evacuation, but the Louvre reopened on Saturday morning. |
Armed police and soldiers patrolled the site on Saturday, which had been closed immediately after Friday's attack, as international tourists lined up to gain entrance. | Armed police and soldiers patrolled the site on Saturday, which had been closed immediately after Friday's attack, as international tourists lined up to gain entrance. |
Read more | Read more |
President Francois Hollande praised the soldiers' actions, saying they had "prevented an attack whose terrorist nature leaves little doubt". | President Francois Hollande praised the soldiers' actions, saying they had "prevented an attack whose terrorist nature leaves little doubt". |
The suspect is believed to have bought two machetes after arriving in Paris. | The suspect is believed to have bought two machetes after arriving in Paris. |
The guards on patrol outside the museum were just some of the thousands of troops lining the streets as part of the stepped-up response to a series of attacks in France since 2015. | The guards on patrol outside the museum were just some of the thousands of troops lining the streets as part of the stepped-up response to a series of attacks in France since 2015. |
A series of assaults by gunmen and suicide bombers claimed by so-called Islamic State killed 130 people in November 2015. | A series of assaults by gunmen and suicide bombers claimed by so-called Islamic State killed 130 people in November 2015. |
In January of the same year, 17 people were killed in an attack on the Charlie Hebdo magazine and linked shootings. | In January of the same year, 17 people were killed in an attack on the Charlie Hebdo magazine and linked shootings. |
Last July, 86 people were killed when a lorry ploughed through crowds celebrating Bastille Day in Nice. | Last July, 86 people were killed when a lorry ploughed through crowds celebrating Bastille Day in Nice. |
Security has become a theme of the French presidential election in April, which sees far-right leader Marine Le Pen and centrist independent Emmanuel Macron leading the polls. | Security has become a theme of the French presidential election in April, which sees far-right leader Marine Le Pen and centrist independent Emmanuel Macron leading the polls. |