Suspect in Louvre attack says he did not get orders from Islamic state
A source said that though Hamahmy sympathized with IS, he had not been given instructions by the group
Reda Abdullah al-Hamamy, the father of Abdullah Reda al-Hamamy who is suspected of attacking a soldier in Paris' Louvre museum, holds a picture of his son during an interview with Reuters in Daqahliya, Egypt, February 4, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
A man who attacked soldiers with machetes at the Louvre museum in Paris has told police he identifies with the beliefs of Islamic State but said he did not carry out the attack on orders from the militant group, a judicial source said on Wednesday.
Egyptian Abdullah Reda al-Hamahmy, 29, was shot and seriously wounded when he launched himself at a group of soldiers on Feb. 3, crying out "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) in what French President Francois Hollande described as a terrorist attack.
Woman charged over failed Paris attack
Hamahmy, who was carrying spray paints in his backpack, has told police he wanted to damage paintings at the museum to "avenge the Syrian people", a source said. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced in the conflict in Syria.
Hamahmy has been in hospital since the attack and late on Tuesday his police custody was lifted as his health had "greatly deteriorated". A source close to the investigation said that though he sympathized with Islamic State, Hamahmy said he had not been given instructions by the group and had not formally sworn allegiance to it.
Knife-wielding man shouting 'Allahu Akbar' shot by soldier in Paris
He is being held on suspicion of seeking to carry out terrorist acts and involvement in criminal terrorist conspiracy and a formal investigation would begin once his health allowed.
The source said the suspect had made two money transfers of 3,000 and 2,000 euros to a fellow Egyptian in Poland in the days immediately before the attack.
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France, which is preparing for a presidential election in April and May, remains under a state of emergency following a series of attacks by militants over the past two years in which more than 230 people have been killed.
Egyptian Abdullah Reda al-Hamahmy, 29, was shot and seriously wounded when he launched himself at a group of soldiers on Feb. 3, crying out "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) in what French President Francois Hollande described as a terrorist attack.
Woman charged over failed Paris attack
Hamahmy, who was carrying spray paints in his backpack, has told police he wanted to damage paintings at the museum to "avenge the Syrian people", a source said. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced in the conflict in Syria.
Hamahmy has been in hospital since the attack and late on Tuesday his police custody was lifted as his health had "greatly deteriorated". A source close to the investigation said that though he sympathized with Islamic State, Hamahmy said he had not been given instructions by the group and had not formally sworn allegiance to it.
Knife-wielding man shouting 'Allahu Akbar' shot by soldier in Paris
He is being held on suspicion of seeking to carry out terrorist acts and involvement in criminal terrorist conspiracy and a formal investigation would begin once his health allowed.
The source said the suspect had made two money transfers of 3,000 and 2,000 euros to a fellow Egyptian in Poland in the days immediately before the attack.
France's Le Pen launches campaign with anti-EU message
France, which is preparing for a presidential election in April and May, remains under a state of emergency following a series of attacks by militants over the past two years in which more than 230 people have been killed.