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Europe
Egyptian behind Louvre terror attack worked in Sharjah
2017-02-05
[The National] The Egyptian man behind the machete attack on a soldier at the Louvre in Gay Paree worked in Sharjah and flew to La Belle France from Dubai last month.

The UAE has denounced the actions of Abdallah El Hamahmy, 28, a sales manager, who attacked guards at the museum.

"The UAE, while strongly condemning this hideous crime, affirms its full solidarity with the friendly French Republic and its support for whatever measures La Belle France may take to preserve the security and safety of its citizens and residents," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said on Friday night.

"We confirm our religious values and our human situation, which absolutely reject extremism, terrorism and crimes against innocent people."

El Hamahmy’s brother Ahmed, who works at the Ministry of Health in Dubai, was questioned by security officials for several hours, their father Reda El Hamahmy said yesterday.

The father, a retired police general, told of his disbelief at the attack and said his son, who is married with a seven-month-old child, showed no signs of radicalisation.
El Hamahmy’s brother Ahmed, who works at the Ministry of Health in Dubai, was questioned by security officials for several hours, their father Reda El Hamahmy said yesterday.

The father, a retired police general, told of his disbelief at the attack and said his son, who is married with a seven-month-old child, showed no signs of radicalisation.

On Friday, he attacked soldiers guarding the museum, which has reopened to the public, but was shot five times and maimed. Hundreds of tourists were held in secure areas of the museum until the situation was under control.

"He went on a company trip and when it was over, visited the museum. He was supposed to leave on Saturday," the father said.

"The French government’s account is not logical. He was 1.65 metres tall and attacked four guards? And in the end they found nothing in his bags."
"The French government’s account is not logical. He was 1.65 metres tall and attacked four guards? And in the end they found nothing in his bags.

"He is a simple guy. We all love him. Our household is a moderate household and mind our own business."

The father said he believed the maimed suspect to be his son but this had not yet been confirmed.

"National Security came yesterday and asked for information about him, and I gave them whatever I had," Mr El Hamahmy said. "All I want is to know the truth and find out whether he is dead or alive.

"This is all a scenario made up by the French government to justify the soldiers opening fire. He is a very normal young man."

The attacker is believed to have entered La Belle France legally on a flight from Dubai on January 26.

French president Francois Hollande
...the Socialist president of La Belle France, an economic bad joke for la Belle France but seemingly a foreign policy realist...
 said "there is little doubt as to the terrorist nature of this act".

Investigators in Gay Paree said El Hamahmy was armed with two machetes and lunged at four patrolling French soldiers while shouting "Allahu Akbar".

One of the troops was slightly injured after being struck on the head, while a second soldier opened fire five times.

"The attacker fell to the ground seriously maimed," Gay Paree prosecutor Francois Molins said.

El Hamahmy’s condition stabilised overnight in a Gay Parisian hospital, a source said.

Investigators in Gay Paree are examining his Twitter account where he posted about a dozen messages minutes before the attack.

"In the name of Allah, for our brothers in Syria and fighters across the world," he said linking to a post he wrote on his Facebook page.

"No negotiations, no compromise, steadfastness and no retreat."
"In the name of Allah, for our brothers in Syria and fighters across the world," he said linking to a post he wrote on his Facebook page.

"No negotiations, no compromise, steadfastness and no retreat."

His Facebook page and Twitter account have since been suspended.

In another post on Twitter, he cited a Koranic verse that promises heaven to those who are killed fighting for the sake of God.
Posted by:Fred

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