He says he is filled with gratitude and pride. This Friday, the day after the Annecy knife attack, which left six injured including four very young children, President Emmanuel Macron visited rescue teams and citizens who intervened during and after the dramatic attack. By insistently showing his gratitude to them.
Hailing speakers "remarkable for professionalism and efficiency", the head of state praised the "courage" shown by some "to intervene, without question" in the face of the aggressor, Abdalmasih H, a 31-year-old Syrian refugee. These citizens, "in a news that sometimes makes us see the worst face of humanity, tell us, oh how much, to have received an education, to carry values, and to know how to find in oneself the springs of what keeps us standing and the most beautiful values, allows us to make great gestures," continued Emmanuel Macron.
In addition to the rescue workers, who took care of the victims, some heroes were revealed during the attack. Like Henri, a young 24-year-old pilgrim popularized by a video where we see him pulling away the assailant, with his simple backpack, as well as a mathematics teacher, mobilized at his side. Not to mention two municipal officers, working on site, who tried to attack the criminal with a shovel.
'Very hard, traumatic moments'
"As President of the Republic, I am very proud of you. Very proud of what has been done by compatriots, who were simply there, and very proud of the place and the role that each one has taken, yours, and therefore ours. You have done your duty. But by doing each and every one of you your duty, you have done much more, "continued Emmanuel Macron. "This face of the France that you have offered, is a France that saves, that intervenes, that challenges, that goes in search of the truth, that heals, that accompanies, with efficiency and humanity and it is the one in which we believe."
VIDEO. Annecy attack: "I was an easy victim for him," says Yusuf, 78,
In addition to this praise, the president still stressed the need for these saviors of the day to preserve their mental health after witnessing "very hard, traumatic moments". "You must also accept to be accompanied in the long term, because these are other injuries. We must know how to look at them to know how to treat them, accompany them, and that they do not reopen afterwards, "warned the president.
The health of those injured in the attack, including four cubs aged 22 to 36 months, began to improve on Friday, according to authorities. For his part, the assailant, Abdalmasih H., did not give reasons for his action. At this stage, his motivations seem "without apparent terrorist motive", according to the Annecy prosecutor's office.
