Overview
Larossi Abballa was a 25-year-old French ex-convict, who murdered two married French police officers on June 13, 2016.Nancy Ing and Cassandra Vinograd, “Magnanville Attacker Was Convicted Jihadi Larossi Abballa: Source,” NBC News, June 14, 2016, http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/magnanville-attacker-was-convicted-jihadi-larossi-abballa-source-n591756. In an attack claimed by ISIS, Abballa entered the home of the two police officers in the Paris suburb of Magnanville, stabbed the two officers to death, and took their three-year-old son hostage.Chine Labbé and Simon Carraud, “Two French police killed in attack claimed by Islamic State,” Reuters, June 14, 2016, http://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-crime-idUSKCN0YZ2KA;
Peter Allen, Chris Summers, and Julian Robinson, “ISIS Terrorist Live-Streamed Killing French Police Husband and Wife Officers in Front of Their Three-Year-Old Son on Facebook Then Posted: ‘I Don’t Know What I’m Going to Do with the Boy,’” Daily Mail (London) June 14, 2016, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3639878/Policeman-stabbed-death-outside-Paris-home-attacker-holding-officer-s-wife-son-hostage.html. French President Francois Hollande has labeled Abballa’s attack “a terrorist act” and convened a high-level meeting over the incident.Chine Labbé and Simon Carraud, “Two French police killed in attack claimed by Islamic State,” Reuters, June 14, 2016, http://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-crime-idUSKCN0YZ2KA;
Nancy Ing and Cassandra Vinograd, “Magnanville Attacker Was Convicted Jihadi Larossi Abballa: Source,” NBC News, June 14, 2016, http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/magnanville-attacker-was-convicted-jihadi-larossi-abballa-source-n591756.
According to witnesses, Abballa shouted “Allahu Akbar” as he launched the attacks in Magnanville.“Who was French Police Murder Suspect Abballa?” BBC News, June 14, 2016, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36526067. Reports also indicate that Abballa livestreamed parts of the attack on Facebook,Chine Labbé and Simon Carraud, “Two French police killed in attack claimed by Islamic State,” Reuters, June 14, 2016, http://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-crime-idUSKCN0YZ2KA. storming the home of the police officers and killing both of the parents in plain view of their child, saying, “I don’t know what I’m going to do with the boy.”Peter Allen, Chris Summers, and Julian Robinson, “ISIS Terrorist Live-Streamed Killing French Police Husband and Wife Officers in Front of Their Three-Year-Old Son on Facebook Then Posted: ‘I Don’t Know What I’m Going to Do with the Boy,’” Daily Mail (London) June 14, 2016, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3639878/Policeman-stabbed-death-outside-Paris-home-attacker-holding-officer-s-wife-son-hostage.html. Abballa reportedly also used Facebook to pledge allegiance to ISIS, and reiterate a pledge of allegiance he claimed to have made three weeks prior.“Who was French Police Murder Suspect Abballa?” BBC News, June 14, 2016, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36526067;
Nancy Ing and Cassandra Vinograd, “Magnanville Attacker Was Convicted Jihadi Larossi Abballa: Source,” NBC News, June 14, 2016, http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/magnanville-attacker-was-convicted-jihadi-larossi-abballa-source-n591756. After a failed hostage negotiation and the murder of the two police officers, an elite police unit stormed the residence hours, killing Abballa in a shootout and rescuing the child. According to French officials, the child appeared to have been “in shock but unharmed.”Peter Allen, Chris Summers, and Julian Robinson, “ISIS Terrorist Live-Streamed Killing French Police Husband and Wife Officers in Front of Their Three-Year-Old Son on Facebook Then Posted: ‘I Don’t Know What I’m Going to Do with the Boy,’” Daily Mail (London) June 14, 2016, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3639878/Policeman-stabbed-death-outside-Paris-home-attacker-holding-officer-s-wife-son-hostage.html;
Angelique Chrisafis, “French police chief and partner killed in stabbing claimed by Isis,” Guardian (London), June 14, 2016, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/13/french-policeman-stabbed-death-paris.
Police stormed the residence hours later, killing Abballa in a shootout and rescuing the child. According to French officials, the child appeared to have been “in shock but unharmed.Peter Allen, Chris Summers, and Julian Robinson, “ISIS Terrorist Live-Streamed Killing French Police Husband and Wife Officers in Front of Their Three-Year-Old Son on Facebook Then Posted: ‘I Don’t Know What I’m Going to Do with the Boy,’” Daily Mail (London) June 14, 2016, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3639878/Policeman-stabbed-death-outside-Paris-home-attacker-holding-officer-s-wife-son-hostage.html; Angelique Chrisafis, “French police chief and partner killed in stabbing claimed by Isis,” Guardian (London), June 14, 2016, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/13/french-policeman-stabbed-death-paris.
Upon searching Abballa’s home after the attack, police discovered a computer with a list of other potential targets, including rappers, journalists, and other police officers and high-profile individuals.“Who was French Police Murder Suspect Abballa?” BBC News, June 14, 2016, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36526067;
Nancy Ing and Cassandra Vinograd, “Magnanville Attacker Was Convicted Jihadi Larossi Abballa: Source,” NBC News, June 14, 2016, http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/isis-terror/magnanville-attacker-was-convicted-jihadi-larossi-abballa-source-n591756.
Before the attack, Abballa had been imprisoned on both criminal and terrorism-related charges, dating back to 2011.“Who was French Police Murder Suspect Abballa?” BBC News, June 14, 2016, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36526067. According to reports, Abballa served time in prison from 2011 until 2013 for his involvement in a jihadist cell, working to facilitate the travel of Islamists to Pakistan.Chine Labbé and Simon Carraud, “Two French police killed in attack claimed by Islamic State,” Reuters, June 14, 2016, http://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-crime-idUSKCN0YZ2KA. During his stint in prison, Abballa reportedly became known for his extremist proselytizing, which led to his being transferred to a different prison on three occasions.Tim Lister, “Arguments grow in France over ‘missed signals’ with police killer Larossi Abballa,” CNN, June 16, 2016, http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/16/europe/france-magnanville-terror-missed-signals-lister/. However, since he had already spent two years and two months in prison after his 2011 arrest waiting for his 2013 trial, Abballa was released shortly after his conviction.Alissa J. Rubin and Lilia Blaise, “Killing Twice for ISIS and Saying So Live on Facebook,” New York Times, June 14, 2016, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/15/world/europe/france-stabbing-police-magnanville-isis.html. Abballa has also reportedly been arrested on charges related to theft and violence.Peter Allen, Chris Summers, and Julian Robinson, “ISIS Terrorist Live-Streamed Killing French Police Husband and Wife Officers in Front of Their Three-Year-Old Son on Facebook Then Posted: ‘I Don’t Know What I’m Going to Do with the Boy,’” Daily Mail (London) June 14, 2016, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3639878/Policeman-stabbed-death-outside-Paris-home-attacker-holding-officer-s-wife-son-hostage.html.
Prior to his 2011 arrest, Abballa was reportedly involved with a group of terrorist sympathizers who reportedly downloaded bomb-making manuals off of the Internet.Tim Lister, “Arguments grow in France over ‘missed signals’ with police killer Larossi Abballa,” CNN, June 16, 2016, http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/16/europe/france-magnanville-terror-missed-signals-lister/. According to court documents, the men practiced beheading techniques on rabbits in the forests outside of Paris.Tim Lister, “Arguments grow in France over ‘missed signals’ with police killer Larossi Abballa,” CNN, June 16, 2016, http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/16/europe/france-magnanville-terror-missed-signals-lister/. Members of the cell—including Aballa—were arrested in 2011 following the arrest of two members in Lahore, Pakistan.Tim Lister, “Arguments grow in France over ‘missed signals’ with police killer Larossi Abballa,” CNN, June 16, 2016, http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/16/europe/france-magnanville-terror-missed-signals-lister/.
After his release in 2013, Abballa was placed on France’s “S-List,” a list of individuals considered by the French government to pose a national security threat.“Who was French Police Murder Suspect Abballa?” BBC News, June 14, 2016, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36526067. Abballa later became the subject of another terrorism investigation, this time related to a jihadist cell in Syria.“Who was French Police Murder Suspect Abballa?” BBC News, June 14, 2016, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36526067. Beginning in February 2016, Abballa was the subject of an investigation into a Syrian-based jihadist group. As part of the investigation, French police tapped Aballa’s phone but did not secure enough evidence for an arrest.Alissa J. Rubin and Lilia Blaise, “Killing Twice for ISIS and Saying So Live on Facebook,” New York Times, June 14, 2016, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/15/world/europe/france-stabbing-police-magnanville-isis.html. “Who was French Police Murder Suspect Abballa?” BBC News, June 14, 2016, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36526067. According to French Justice Minister Jean-Jacques Urvoas, “This man, who became a monster the moment he killed, had shown no signs of preparation.”Tim Lister, “Arguments grow in France over ‘missed signals’ with police killer Larossi Abballa,” CNN, June 16, 2016, http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/16/europe/france-magnanville-terror-missed-signals-lister/.
Associated Groups
- Extremist entity
- ISIS
- Read Threat Report
- Type(s) of Organization:
- Insurgent, territory-controlling, religious, terrorist, violent
- Ideologies and Affiliations:
- Islamist, jihadist, pan-Islamist, Salafist, takfiri
- Position(s):
- Operative (alleged)
ISIS is a violent jihadist group based in Iraq and Syria. The group has declared wilayas (provinces) in Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the North Caucasus. ISIS has also waged attacks in Turkey, Lebanon, France, Belgium, Iraq, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Tunisia, and Kuwait.
History
Daily Dose
Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.
Fact:
On October 7, 2023, Hamas invaded southern Israel where, in the space of eight hours, hundreds of armed terrorists perpetrated mass crimes of brutality, rape, and torture against men, women and children. In the biggest attack on Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust, 1,200 were killed, and 251 were taken hostage into Gaza—where 101 remain. One year on, antisemitic incidents have increased by record numbers.