Elderly Moroccan Man Threatened at Gunpoint in Cherbourg Pizzeria

Armed with a loaded firearm and a knife, the aggressor seems to have followed the victim to the front of the pizzeria on the Avenue de Normandie in Cherbourg-Octeville (Manche). The events took place on September 10, 2022, around 7:30 pm. "I was waiting for my order at the pizzeria on the Place Pierre-Mendès-France when an individual came towards me. Without reason, he threatened me with a firearm and placed the barrel tip between my eyes, telling me to be quiet. At the time, the people present did not move. We were all surprised," confides Mohammed Chaboune, the 73-year-old retiree, as reported by actu.fr.

The young man then left the scene, gun in hand. The victim immediately called the police, as he knows his aggressor very well. "I know my aggressor. He is the son of a former colleague. I do not frequent him. I really do not understand his gesture." With the information provided by Mohammed, the police will soon apprehend his aggressor. He was still intoxicated and had the firearm and knife. He was placed in custody.

Even though he was not injured, Mohammed Chaboune, who has lived in France since 1969, says he is still in shock from this unprovoked assault. And the fact that the aggressor was released adds further to his psychological shock. "Since my assault, I no longer sleep. I was not injured, but I am psychologically marked. I am now under treatment. I commend the rapid intervention of the police services and their listening during my filing of the complaint. But I am now awaiting a criminal justice response. It is not normal for a man to walk around the street in this way with a weapon. My aggressor was released. And I sometimes cross paths with him in the neighborhood. This worries me."