The Paris Court of Appeal confirmed on Wednesday the inadmissibility of the civil party application requested by the mother of Mohammed Mogouchkov who killed Professor Dominique Bernard in Arras (Pas-de-Calais) on October 13, deplores his lawyer.
The attacker's mother wanted to be a civil party in the judicial investigation into the Islamist attack in Arras, because she considers herself a collateral victim, with her daughters, of her son's actions.
“They are victims for three reasons: they had to leave their home, the mother is presented today as a woman raising terrorists and her youngest daughter was taken from her, who is placed in a shelter,” detailed on January 31 his lawyer Mikaël Benillouche to AFP.
Placed in administrative deductions
But the investigating chamber confirmed its inadmissibility on Wednesday, considering that its “damage was indirect”, regretted Me Benillouche.
On Wednesday, this woman and her other daughter were also placed in administrative detention for 24 hours “to verify their administrative situation with regard to the right to stay”, we learned from the Pas-de-Calais prefecture. .
They were subject to “usual checks carried out as part of the fight against illegal immigration at Calais station” and were not able to present a valid residence permit.
Conflicting mother-son relationships
Investigations into the Arras attack revealed conflictual relations between Mohammed Mogouchkov and his mother.
She “gave blows, Mohammed came to our house when he was fired,” Mohammed's cousin told the investigating judge in December.
The latter, aged 15, is indicted because he is suspected of having been informed of the planned attack without preventing it, which he disputes.
Before October 13, the mother had also filed a complaint twice, in September 2022 and in February 2023, against Mohammed Mogouchkov for violence against his ascendant.
But “the offense was not sufficiently characterized”, indicated the Arras prosecutor's office, which closed its complaints.
The judicial investigation, in which the attacker, his cousin and his younger brother are indicted, is progressing.
The French teacher deliberately targeted
Questioned in November and January, Mohammed Mogouchkov claimed to have intentionally targeted teacher Dominique Bernard to attack the symbol of “love” for France.
Also read “Dominique Bernard was the final target”: the Arras terrorist recounts his crime and his radicalization
“Dominique Bernard was a French teacher, it is one of the subjects where we transmit passion, love, attachment to the system in general of the Republic, democracy, human rights,” said - he explained in particular, according to elements of which the AFP was aware.
He also added that he had “planned” his project alone “one to three weeks in advance”.
“No person was aware of this project or even of this desire,” he assured, specifying that “the means used, the day chosen (Friday), the location and the target were intentional”.