Notre Dame Cathedral attacker was ex-journalist

An Algerian student suspected of attacking police officers in front of Notredame Cathedral – with cries of “This is for Syria” and armed with a hammer – has been identified by a relative as a former journalist who firmly believed in democratic values and showed no signs of radicalisation.

The Paris prosecutor’s office said a search of a residence linked to the suspectinthesuburbofcergypontoise uncovered a declaration of allegiance to the Islamic State group.

A nephew in Algeria, lawyer Sofiane Ikken, said he was shocked at the finding because his uncle, Farid Ikken, had previously expressed disdain for the extremist group.

“I really can’t understand it or believe it,” he said. “We couldn’t believe that Farid committed such an act. Everyone is calling me to say, ‘We can’t believe it.”