A 36-year-old man, who injured two policewomen with a saber Thursday in Cherbourg (Manche), was indicted on Saturday for attempted murder and imprisoned, the Coutances prosecutor's office announced on Monday, December 6.
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"
The perpetrator of the beatings was indicted for (...) attempted murder
" on a person holding public authority, "
extortion with a weapon
", "
carrying a weapon
" and "
possession of narcotics
" , said the prosecutor of the Republic of Coutances (Manche) Cyril Lacombe to journalists. The investigation continues "in
order to bring all the clarity on the facts, on the personality of the author and to assess the damage of the victims
", added the magistrate.
The two injured police officers left the hospital on Friday, Christelle Sanier, departmental secretary for Manche of the Alliance police nationale union, told AFP.
One of them underwent surgery on the head under general anesthesia on the night of Thursday to Friday, according to the same source.
The mother of the family received 14 stitches, continued Christelle Sanier.
"
Many bladed weapons
"
Thursday, around 3:45 p.m., the man, who had just stolen a Citroën C3 by threatening the driver with his saber, lost control of the vehicle, causing an accident near a roundabout in Tourlaville. A police patrol was passing by at this time. "
He threw himself on the police officers with a saber and wounded them in the face,
" Yves Le Clair, public prosecutor in Cherbourg told AFP on Thursday, citing "
superficial wounds
" and ruling out any terrorist motivation.
The first policewoman was hit in the chin, while the second was stabbed five centimeters above the right ear.
Two other police officers then opened fire, hitting the assailant several times.
Aware of the arrival of help, the suspect had been evacuated by helicopter to the hospital in Caen.
He carried "
many bladed weapons
", including knives, divided into two different bags, according to the prosecutor of Cherbourg.
The man was known to justice for "
facts related to narcotics
", according to the same source.
