After the knife attack, France Henri, the “hero with the backpack” celebrates Bucha’s resurrection

A day after the knife attack on small children in the middle of a playground in France, the deeply stricken country struggles for answers.

Bouquets of flowers, stuffed animals and balloons commemorated the incident in the eastern French town of Annecy on Friday as children played nearby. The perpetrator injured four children between 22 months and three years old there on Thursday morning, two of whom were critical. It was unclear exactly how the victims fared after the attack.

The horror was palpable after the attack in France. French President Emmanuel Macron, together with his wife Brigitte, personally visited the injured, their families and the helpers.

After the crime, the children from France, the Netherlands and Great Britain were taken to clinics in Geneva and Grenoble. The man also injured two adults before security forces overpowered and arrested him. One of the adults also fought for his life after the attack.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin called it the “worst day for the French” since taking office nearly three years ago. Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire said: “There is nothing so inhumane, nothing so senseless, nothing that hurts so much as attacking children.” And government spokesman Véran said: “There is nothing that can ever justify or explain why children are targeted by a man.” Everyone was looking for answers.

But in the search for the why, France will probably have to be patient a little longer. The Annecy public prosecutor’s office announced that the arrest of the suspect has been extended. No further announcement is scheduled for Friday. The arrested person was psychologically examined in the morning.

“I felt like he was panicking”

Shortly after the attack, prosecutor Line Bonnet-Mathis said no terrorist motive had initially been established. Alcohol or drugs probably weren’t involved either.

According to Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne, the arrested Syrian, who had lived in Sweden for years, was unknown to the European security authorities. There is also no evidence of past psychiatric treatment. Police later said the man was particularly restless in custody.

“I felt like he panicked and didn’t quite know what to do,” 78-year-old Yusuf Meric described the attack in the newspaper “Le Parisien”. The pensioner was injured in the arm by the perpetrator. “I have no idea what he wanted, I think he attacked me more accidentally.”

The man had only come to France a few months earlier. He had no permanent residence there. On Sunday he was then told that he would not be granted asylum in France because he had already received it in Sweden.

The «hero with the backpack»

In the midst of all the terror, however, there is a bright spot for many in France: the ‘hero with the backpack’ who stood in the way of the perpetrator and pursued him. Referring to videos of the attack, French media reported that the man chased the perpetrator away from the playground.

The hero, loaded with two backpacks, was quickly found online: his name is Henri, he is 24 years old and on tour from cathedral to cathedral.

“I acted very instinctively,” the young man told CNews. “It was unthinkable for me to do nothing.” He did everything he could to protect the weakest.

The assailant also tried to wound him with a knife, Henri said. “I feared for my life, but most of all I feared for the lives of others. I didn’t want him to hurt anyone.” Only when the stress eased later did he realize that the situation could have been very dangerous.

Comments on his Facebook profile were full of appreciation and gratitude for his intervention. “I cannot find words strong enough to appreciate your tremendous courage,” he said. Now the man is probably even scheduled to meet President Macron. (aeg/sda/dpa)