A 20-year-old French man suspected of carrying out a brutal murder inside a mosque in southern France has been arrested in Italy and is now set to be extradited.
The suspect, identified as Olivier H., allegedly stabbed Malian national Aboubakar Cissé to death while he was praying alone at the Hatice Mosque in La Grand-Combe on April 25.
Authorities say Olivier entered the mosque pretending to pray before launching a violent attack, stabbing the victim multiple times—up to 50, according to investigators. He reportedly filmed the incident on his phone while shouting anti-Islamic slurs, then fled the scene on a bicycle.
The killing sparked outrage across France, especially within the Muslim community. Cissé, described as a kind and hardworking young man, had lived in the town for several years and was known for volunteering at the mosque. He had recently earned a certificate in masonry and was actively contributing to his community.
After the murder, the suspect escaped to Italy by train and took refuge in the Tuscan city of Pistoia, where his paternal aunt convinced him to turn himself in. He surrendered to Italian police on April 27 and was later confirmed as the prime suspect. During an extradition hearing in Florence, Olivier waived his right to contest the transfer, speeding up the process.
French authorities say he will be flown back in early May to face formal charges, including premeditated murder with a religious-hate motive. Although he told Italian police he wasn’t driven by religion and attacked the “first person he saw,” prosecutors argue the video evidence and his statements suggest otherwise. Reports indicate he even showed interest in becoming a serial killer.
The French government has since ordered tighter security around mosques, while President Emmanuel Macron condemned the act, stating, “Religious hatred has no place in the Republic.”
Muslim advocacy groups and several public figures have called for stronger protection of religious spaces and more decisive action against Islamophobic violence, especially as France sees a sharp increase in anti-Muslim incidents.
