More than a year after the knife attack in Annecy, Henri d'Anselme, the hero who intervened to protect the children, shares new revelations. He confirmed that the attacker, a Syrian refugee, had concealed his past affiliation with Daesh by posing as an Eastern Christian.
Disturbing revelations about the suspect's past
During his speech, Henri recounted the moments of the attack, emphasizing the spiritual dimension of the drama:
« [Le terroriste] criait “in the name of Jesus Christ” […] I even shouted at him: “You are the devil!” »
Henri then explained that after the attack, investigations had revealed the assailant's troubled past. This former member of Bashar al-Assad's army, affiliated with Daesh, is said to have deserted, then lied about his identity to obtain asylum in Europe.
A journey marked by dissimulation
According to Henri and the sources in the file that he was able to consult, the suspect had learned that declaring himself an Eastern Christian or homosexual made the asylum process easier. He therefore falsified his identity, obtaining status in Sweden by seducing a local Christian woman with whom he had a child. The Swedish authorities, having discovered the deception, deported him. After passing through several European countries, his request for asylum was also rejected in France, but he remained in an irregular situation there until the tragedy.
An attack and legal questions
On June 8, 2023, the attacker seriously injured six people, including four young children, in a park in Annecy. Testimonies speak of a man shouting incoherent remarks mixing religious references. The judicial investigation, still in progress, has ruled out the terrorist trail while continuing a psychiatric assessment.
Henri nevertheless denounced during his intervention in the Legend podcast what he considers to be a “ escape through psychiatrization “. Currently interned in a specialized unit, the suspect should be heard again by the judges in the coming months.
A hero marked by ordeal
Despite his crucial role during the attack, Henri confides his difficulties in overcoming this tragedy:
« I still feel some guilt. […] If I may take a more spiritual look, I think he was possessed. This is just me, but that's my feeling. »
While the victims' families still await answers, Henri's revelations raise new questions in the case. After the recent attack committed by a Saudi on a Christmas market in Magdeburg, immigration is at the heart of a global debate in Europe.
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