Grand-Combe Mosque attacker charged with racist, religious murder

The attacker involved in the mosque stabbing in La Grand-Combe on April 25 has been formally charged and taken into custody, the Nîmes prosecutor’s office announced on Friday, May 9. Olivier Hadzovic, who fatally stabbed 22-year-old Malian national Aboubakar Cissé, is facing charges of premeditated murder motivated by race or religion—two aggravating circumstances under French law.

The suspect, who had fled to Italy after the attack, turned himself in to local authorities and was extradited to France yesterday morning. According to a statement from Nîmes prosecutor Cécile Gensac, cited by AFP, Hadzovic was unable to speak during his initial appearance before the investigating judge. His defense lawyer, Adrien Gabeaud, clarified that this silence was not an attempt to obstruct the investigation or evade justice. «He will be questioned at a later time», Gensac added.

Gabeaud also indicated that he would request several assessments for his client, including psychiatric evaluations. Meanwhile, the prosecutor’s office maintains that the accused acted with clear intent. After committing the stabbing, Hadzovic allegedly filmed the dying victim while shouting anti-religious slurs.

The indictment comes just two days ahead of a national march against Islamophobia, planned for Sunday, May 11, in Paris, in memory of Aboubakar Cissé. Organized by political groups, civil society organizations, academics, writers, and public figures, similar gatherings are expected to take place across France on the same day.

Since the attack, Cissé’s body has been repatriated to Mali for burial.