After the attack on a mosque in southwestern France, the prosecutor's office has posted details on the motive of the alleged shooter. The 84-year-old had said he wanted to avenge the fire disaster of Notre-Dame, said the prosecutor of Bayonne, Marc Mariée.
The prosecution said it was doubting the mental health of the suspect, so he was examined by a psychiatrist. It is in contact with the anti-terrorist prosecutor who now has to decide whether to take over the case.
The 84-year-old is said to have shot a 74-year-old and a 78-year-old on Monday in front of the mosque. The first victim, according to the prosecutor, sat on a chair in front of the mosque, the second in his vehicle. The police arrested the alleged gunman a short time later in his home.
According to the authorities, the old man first tried to set fire to the door of the mosque in Bayonne. In the past, he was politically involved with the right wing and had noticed racist statements in his region.
Notre-Dame, the world-famous Parisian cathedral, was badly damaged in a fire over half a year ago. Although the cause of the fire is still unclear, the investigators have excluded a criminal background. The fire is said to have been triggered either by a fault in the electrical system or by an unexpressed cigarette.
