A gathering a few meters from the scene of the tragedy. Several dozen ultra-right activists demonstrated Thursday night on the Pâquier, on the shores of Lake Annecy, where the attack that left six wounded, including four children, took place.
The participants sang "La Marseillaise" several times and chanted "Blue, white, red, the France to the French", reports our colleagues from France Bleu Pays de Savoie. Speeches have denounced French migration policy.
VIDEO - After the knife attack against children, about fifty ultra-nationalists gathered to march on the Pâquier, in Annecy, this Thursday evening, to the sound of the Marseillaise. pic.twitter.com/ukFO4yJMW4
— France Bleu Pays de Savoie (@bleusavoie) June 8, 2023
A call to demonstrate had been relayed on social networks via the #francocide, a term coined by Eric Zemmour to describe "a crime committed on a Frenchman by a foreigner".
The suspect in the horrific attack is Abdalmasih H., a 31-year-old Syrian homeless man. On 28 November, the father of a family had filed an asylum application in France. It had been refused in recent days, as he already had refugee status in Sweden. He was therefore in a legal situation on European territory at the time of the attack.
A prefectural decree
Earlier in the day, gatherings had been banned by the prefect of Haute-Savoie and the public prosecutor. In a statement, the authorities wanted to avoid "provoking counter-demonstrations generating unrest and violence," the statement said.
Yves Le Breton, @prefet74, and Line Bonnet, @ProcAnnecy, call not to organize spontaneous gatherings following the serious events that occurred today.
Read our press release as well as the prefectural order banning demonstrations ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/8hXghJyaqh
— Prefect of Haute-Savoie (@Prefet74) June 8, 2023
Two adults and four young children were injured in the stabbing attack. "When it affects children, we are touched deep within ourselves and the country is in shock," Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said in a speech on the spot.
