Ultra-right ideologies suspected in fatal assault of Tunisian resident in Var, initiating a probe by the National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutors' team.
Fresh Take:
Boom! Here's a reality check for ya. Five weeks ago, a tragic incident rocked La Grand-Combe, Gard, where Aboubakar Cissé, a young Muslim man met his end in a heinous mosque stabbing on April 25. Fast forward to May 31, and we've got another nasty slice of hate unfolding in Puget-sur-Argens, Var. Yep, you guessed it - another racially and Islamophobically motivated homicide. The victim, a 45-year-old Tunisian man, met his end in a shooting this time.
Now, the justice system's getting pissed. They're calling out racism as an aggravating factor, but it's a different story this time around. While the murder of Aboubakar Cissé was handled by the Nîmes Criminal Pole, this time, the National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office (PNAT) has stepped in.
What's the PNAT got to do with it, you ask? Well, this is their first case involving a potential far-right inspired murder. Given the resurgence of the ultra-right terrorist threat back in 2017, this move ain't surprising. Since then, French justice has opened 20 terrorist investigations linked to such ideology, mostly thwarted attack projects.
But here's the juicy bit. This six-year-old organization, created in 2019, never took charge of a murder inspired by such ideas before.
Intrigued? Here's the lowdown. The PNAT kicked off a preliminary investigation on June 2, charging the suspected culprit with "premeditated murder and attempted murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise, committed on the basis of race or religion," and "criminal terrorist conspiracy." The suspect, a 53-year-old French guy, was a prolific post-er of hateful and racist content on social media. The victim was shot five times, and a Turkish national was injured in the hand.
Now, let's talk about the public reaction. Anti-discrimination groups are speaking up, denouncing the racist nature of the attack and expressing growing concern over hate crimes against Muslims in France. Stay woke, folks!
Politics today are awash with general-news, as the recent shooting in Puget-sur-Argens, Var, classified as a racially and Islamophobically motivated homicide, has sent shockwaves through France. This crime-and-justice incident, handled by the National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office (PNAT) for the first time, has ignited a heated debate on the resurgence of far-right ideology in the country.
