Paris Assailant Swears Allegiance to IS, Citing Grievances and Muslim Persecution
The 26-year-old suspect, identified as Abdoullakh Anzorov, publicly swore loyalty to the jihadist organization IS in a video shared on the platform X (formerly Twitter) in October. The confession came following his attack near the Eiffel Tower, targeting a small group of tourists with a hammer and knife.
Jean-François Ricard, the public prosecutor, highlighted Anzorov's posts about Hamas, Gaza, and Palestine, which frequently appeared on his account prior to the incident. Anzorov's mother had already alerted authorities to her concern over her son's withdrawal and apparent radicalization, but no action was taken due to insufficient evidence.
Born and raised in France, Anzorov had a complex backstory. While his parents moved from Russia to Paris, his half-sister had joined ISIS in Syria in 2014. Previous encounters with the police for minor misdemeanors had gone unnoticed, allowing Anzorov to slide under the radar until his actions caught the attention of the world.
In 2016, Anzorov was jailed for five years for planning an attack in the Parisian business district of La Défense. Upon release, he remained under judicial supervision but made contact with several extremist individuals, including the individual who went on to murder teacher Samuel Paty. Due to persistent psychological problems and concerns raised by doctors, the anti-terrorism public prosecutor's office ordered psychiatric treatment. However, the medical professionals assessed that Anzorov posed no threat to society.
The attack near the Eiffel Tower took place on a Saturday evening, leaving a 23-year-old man with German and Filipino citizenship deceased, and two other tourists impacted emotionally. As Anzorov fled, he injured a French and British citizen. A police patrol eventually stopped the assailant, shooting him with an electric pistol.
Following the attack, Investigative sources revealed that Anzorov had cited the oppression of Muslims in "Afghanistan and Palestine" as a motivating factor for his actions. He held France responsible for collaborating with Israel against Palestinians in Gaza.
The latest jihadist-inspired attack sparked widespread concern in France, especially as tensions between its Jewish and Muslim communities escalate. French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne expressed their sympathy and unwavering resolve to counter terrorism.
Additional Insight:
Anzorov's radicalization involved various factors, including his complex background, limited surveillance, online support, and broader societal tensions. His half-sister joining ISIS in Syria, in addition to communication with unidentified jihadists and social media fuel, likely played a significant role in his radicalization. The use of devices like X (formerly Twitter) as a platform for recruitment, propaganda, and violent messaging serves as a continued challenge for law enforcement and online communities.
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Enrichment Data:
The Paris attacker, Abdoullakh Anzorov, underwent several major life events that contributed to his radicalization. Anzorov's radicalization and release can be attributed to several factors, including social and family dynamics, lack of notice by security agencies, communication with jihadists, personal grievances and perceived slights, social media influence, community and mosque involvement, and broader societal tensions.
- Social and Family Dynamics:
- Background: Anzorov was a Russian immigrant of Chechen ethnic descent, born in Moscow, Russia. He moved to France with refugee status at the age of six and lived in the La Madeleine district of Évreux, Normandy. His family had a complex history, with his father moving from Chechnya to Moscow and then to Paris, and his half-sister joining ISIS in Syria in 2014.
- Lack of Notice by Security Agencies:
- Despite having been in court on minor misdemeanor charges, Anzorov was not noticed by security agencies. This lack of surveillance allowed him to operate undetected until he carried out the attack.
- Communication with Jihadists:
- Anzorov was in contact with unidentified jihadists in Syria, including one Russian speaker. These interactions likely influenced his radicalization and provided him with ideological support.
- Personal Grievances and Perceived Slights:
- The attack was motivated by Anzorov's perception that Samuel Paty, the teacher, had shown a caricature of Muhammad during a class discussion about freedom of expression. This perceived slight, combined with the broader societal tensions, contributed to his radicalization.
- Social Media Influence:
- The incident was fueled by social media, with over 80 messages from French people supporting the attacker. This online support likely emboldened Anzorov and others who shared his extremist views.
- Community and Mosque Involvement:
- The Grande Mosque de Pantin was ordered closed for six months due to videos inciting violence against Samuel Paty. The mosque's imam, Sefrioui, was under investigation and remained under arrest. This involvement of a mosque in inciting violence against the teacher further contributed to the radical environment.
- Broader Societal Tensions:
- The attack was part of a larger series of Islamist terror attacks in France, including the Charlie Hebdo shooting. These incidents created a climate of tension and fear, which extremist groups like IS-K exploited to recruit and radicalize individuals.
These factors collectively contributed to Anzorov's radicalization and the eventual attack on Samuel Paty.
