As Twitchy reported on Saturday, a bearded man of North African origin stabbed a French soldier in the neck with a knife or a box-cutter. The assailant is still on the loose.
According to Business Insider, Le Parisien reported that the attacker was “wearing a jilbab, a type of Islamic garment.”
Via the UK Telegraph, new evidence has emerged suggesting a possible connection to Islamic terrorism:
The video appears to suggest that the Paris attack could be inspired by the Islamist murder of a British serviceman in London.
Anti-terrorism investigators now say they have “high quality images” of a “tall, athletic bearded man” aged about 30, possibly of North African origin, praying near the spot where he attacked the 23-year-old soldier from behind with a knife or a box-cutter on Saturday. He then fled into a crowded train station and is still at large.
“He was filmed praying near where the attack took place. After the attack he can be seen leaving the shopping centre of La Défense (business district),” a source close the investigation told Le Parisien.
Some have downplayed the possibility that this was an act of terrorism:
Unclear if stabbing of French soldier has any links to terrorism: http://t.co/oIvgOHYOmX -SS
— The Associated Press (@AP) May 25, 2013
But at least one high-ranking French official has spoken openly about a possible connection.
“There are indeed elements that lead us to believe it (the French attack) could be an act of terrorism,” French Interior Minister Manuel Valls said.
The surveillance video will further fuel such speculation.
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