Overview

• Aboubakar Cissé, a 22-year-old Malian worshiper, was fatally stabbed while praying alone at the La Grand-Combe mosque; the attacker filmed the assault and shouted anti-Muslim slurs.
• The suspect, identified as 21-year-old Olivier A., fled to Italy before surrendering to police near Florence; extradition to France is expected by mid-May.
• Investigators are focusing on anti-Muslim motives but are also exploring psychological factors, including the suspect’s alleged fascination with death and desire for notoriety.
• Criticism mounts over the French government’s delayed response, with comparisons to faster actions following other violent incidents; Muslim leaders and the victim’s family demand stronger protections.
• In response to the attack and rising Islamophobic incidents—up 72% in early 2025—the government has increased security at mosques across the country and faced calls for further action.