| 2020 Romans-sur-Isère knife attack | |
| Partof: | Islamic terrorism in Europe |
| Location: | Romans-sur-Isère, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France |
| Date: | 4 April 2020 |
| Time: | 10:45 a.m. CET |
| Target: | Civilians |
| Weapons: | Knife |
| Fatalities: | 2 |
| Injuries: | 5 |
| Perp: | Abdallah Ahmed-Osman |
| Motive: | Jihadism (Islamic terrorism) [1] |
| Coordinates: | 45.0464°N 5.0517°W |
In late morning on 4 April 2020, a knife attack occurred in Romans-sur-Isère, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France, resulting in the death of two people and the wounding of five others.[2] The attacker, Abdallah Ahmed-Osman, a 33-year old Sudanese refugee, was charged with terrorist crimes.
The attacker entered a tobacco shop, where he stabbed the two owners and a customer, wounding them; he went on to a butcher's shop, where he stole a knife and killed a customer. He then killed another man, the owner of a local theatre who died shielding his twelve-year-old son, and then wounded two people waiting in line outside a bakery.[3]
The suspect was a 33-year-old Sudanese man who had obtained refugee status and a 10-year visa in 2017.[4] [5] According to Arabic-speaking witnesses, he shouted "Allah Akbar" when he launched his attack and, at the time of his arrest, kneeled down and recited the Shahada, the Muslim profession of faith.[6] A terrorism investigation was launched. Searches at his home revealed handwritten notes complaining about living in a "country of disbelievers".[7] On 8 April, he was indicted for "assassinations and attempted assassinations in connection with a terrorist group".[8]
The attack occurred during the national lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic in France.[9] [10]