The man armed with a knife arrested Thursday, October 30 in Lyon will be presented to the public prosecutor's office on Saturday for the opening of a judicial investigation for "
carrying a prohibited weapon and threats with a weapon
", said the prosecutor of the Republic.
The suspect had been arrested with a knife 30 centimeters long in his hand not far from Perrache station while he was trying to get on a tram.
Read also: A radical Islamist armed with a knife arrested in the center of Lyon
During his police custody, he formally contested any violent intention explaining that his knife was to be used to "
cut chocolate
" and "
to eat,
" said Lyon public prosecutor Nicolas Jacquet in a press release on Friday.
The suspect had already been sentenced by the criminal court of Lyon on October 21 to 6 months of suspended imprisonment and a fine of 300 euros for acts of violence against persons holding public authority, insults and rebellion, adds the same source.
These acts had been committed while he wanted to enter the precincts of the prefecture for a procedure related to his residence permit and had been prevented from doing so by the police because he was not wearing a mask.
Arrived in France in 2014 and beneficiary of a valid residence permit, he was not known to the police services both in terms of delinquency and radicalization apart from a conviction for lack of insurance.
Following his conviction on October 21, however, he was the subject of a report for assessment.
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Investigations will continue in order to more accurately determine his background, his motivations and provide more information on his personality, in particular through a psychiatric expertise.
In addition, another man arrested Thursday in the 8th arrondissement of Lyon after he called the 17th, reporting "
voice ordering him to kill people
", was hospitalized under duress .
