Woman Fatally Stabbed in Nantes While Walking to Work, Suspect at Large

According to the Nantes prosecutor, Renaud Gaudeul, the attack took place in the lower part of the Bellevue district, at the moment when the victim, a cleaning woman in a health facility, was going to work. "She had just left her home in the immediate vicinity of the place of the attack and was going to her workplace," he said.

The firefighters were alerted around 6:30 a.m. by three individuals, "alerted by the cries of the victim calling for help," according to the magistrate, specifying that they could not do anything to save her, as the victim (Nadia Hassade) was already in cardiac arrest. All attempts to revive her were in vain.

The preliminary examination of the victim’s body revealed that it had "about ten sharp wounds on the upper body," added the prosecutor. Mother of four adult children, the victim lived alone with two of her children, the magistrate continued. Of French nationality, she was "probably veiled" and had been separated for several years.

For now, no information on the suspect, who is on the run. "An investigation has been opened for voluntary homicide," said Renaud Gaudel, adding that there has been "no arrest at this stage." The judicial police have been seized of the investigation. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday morning.