Paris Orly airport attacker ‘was under influence of drugs and alcohol’

A suspected Islamic extremist who launched an attack at a Paris airport on Saturday was under the influence of drugs, a judicial source said. Toxicology tests showed an alcohol level of 0.93 grammes per litre in his blood, and the presence of cannabis and cocaine, the source said. The gunman shouted: “I am here to die for Allah - there will be deaths”, before attempting to gun people down at Orly airport. The man - known as Ziyed B - at one point threw down a bag containing a can of petrol, a Parisian prosecutor said. He was initially stopped for speeding at a road check north of the city early on Saturday morning, where he injured a policewoman after shooting her in the face with an air pistol. He then held up a woman motorist at gunpoint, stealing her car and driving to Orly airport.

[The gunman was] a radicalised Muslim known to intelligence services and the justice system

Police spokesperson

In the airport terminal, the attacker assaulted a patrol of three counter-terrorism soldiers, making the statement about Allah. He wrestled one of the soldiers to the floor, trying to take her gun. The man was shot dead by patrol officers as they attempted to protect the woman and members of the public at the airport. Pictures of the 39-year-old man lying dead with his arms outstretched on the terminal floor have emerged in the wake of the shooting. In total, soldiers fired eight rounds at the attacker, who was intent on shooting people at the airport, French officials said. A police source said the man was “a radicalised Muslim known to intelligence services and the justice system”. He had a history of thefts and violent robberies. The man’s father, brother and a cousin were taken into police custody. The relatives were later released.

Put your weapons down, hands on your heads. I’m here to die for Allah. In any case people are going to die.

Ben Belgacem

World