The name and photo of the most wanted man since Friday morning in the greater Montreal area have been made public.
• Also read: A case of extreme domestic violence in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu: the ex-spouse actively sought by the police
The police are asking for the population's help to find Abdennour Maalala, 26, who is said to have savagely beaten his ex-partner, before kidnapping her and attempting to kill her.
Maalala allegedly showed up early Friday morning at his former girlfriend's house, where he physically assaulted her, before kidnapping her, in the interior parking lot of a residential building on Chemin Athlone, in Mont-Royal, on the island from Montreal.
The suspect then allegedly placed the 23-year-old young woman in the back seat of his own car and drove to Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, where he threw the vehicle into the Richelieu River, around 6:25 a.m. .
MAXIME DELAND/AGENCE QMI
“The last time the suspect was seen, he was trying to swim out of the submerged vehicle,” Montreal police said in a press release issued Friday afternoon.
The victim was rescued at the last minute by local firefighters, who had to use a watercraft to rescue him.
The young woman was injured, suffering from hypothermia and in shock. She was taken to hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Abdennour Maalala has not been seen since the events. The suspect has black hair and brown eyes. At the time of the crime, he was wearing black pants, a black coat and red sports shoes.
Maalala is 1.83 meters (6 ft) tall and speaks both French and English.
Anyone who sees him or has information on his whereabouts is asked to contact 911 or Info-Crime at 514 393-1133.
