Armed Man Disrupts Eid al-Adha Celebration in French Town, Two Injured

A tragedy narrowly avoided in Bonneuil-sur-Marne. While more than 2,000 people from the commune of Bonneuil-sur-Marne, responding to the invitation of the Essalam association, were gathered on Sunday morning in the Eugénie Cotton gymnasium to celebrate Eid al-Adha, an armed man burst into the premises. The individual "quickly reported for his abnormal behavior" was overpowered by residents, reports Mayor Denis Oztorun, present for the occasion, in a press release.

"Before the individual could fire with his firearm, citizens present around him were immediately able to disarm him, at the same time as we called the police. I personally physically intervened, with other courageous fellow citizens, so that the situation did not escalate and to avoid the worst," recounted the vice-president of the Association of Mayors of France. He wanted to thank all the residents present "for the composure and sense of responsibility that each one has shown to avoid panic." Shortly after, the police arrived on the scene and arrested the perpetrator. He was then placed in police custody for attempted extortion with a weapon and death threats. The report shows two injured.

An investigation has been entrusted to the Créteil police station. It will seek to know the motives of this act. In the meantime, Denis Oztorun, affiliated with the Communist Party, called to "avoid any unhealthy speculation about the reasons for this act, the consequences of which could have been dramatic." "In the current context, let’s not add fuel to the fire that the far right would relish, and let’s remain united to bring to life and prevail our values of fraternity, social cohesion, solidarity and peace," concluded the mayor.