French police were searching for a man on Saturday suspected of murdering a Muslim worshipper inside a mosque in southern France while filming the act on his mobile phone and shouting insults at Islam.
The attack occurred on Friday morning in the village of La Grand-Combe, located in the Gard region.
The victim, a man in his early 20s, was stabbed to death while praying inside the mosque.
According to regional prosecutor Abdelkrim Grini, the motive for the killing remains unclear.
However, security camera footage reportedly showed the suspect insulting “Allah” during the incident.
The assailant filmed the murder and sent the video to someone else, who then shared it on social media before removing it.
Authorities have identified the suspect as a French citizen of Bosnian origin, but he has not yet been apprehended.
Prosecutor Grini emphasized that the case is being treated with the utmost seriousness, and all possibilities, including the potential for an Islamophobic motive, are being explored.
The French anti-terrorism prosecutors are considering whether to take over the investigation.
The killing occurred while the victim and the attacker were alone inside the mosque.
The suspect, after praying with the victim, allegedly stabbed him up to 50 times before fleeing.
The victim’s body was discovered later in the morning when other worshippers arrived for Friday prayers.
The victim, a young man who had arrived from Mali a few years ago, was known and respected in the village.
The incident has shocked the local community, and police are continuing their search for the suspect.
Authorities are investigating whether the attack may have been motivated by Islamophobia.
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