France isn't buying Macron's excuses after the Eiffel Tower attack

There was more bloodshed in Paris this weekend, this time involving a man who, prosecutors claim, had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS). A German tourist was killed as he strolled close to the Eiffel Tower with his wife during the attack on Saturday evening. Two other passers-by, including a Briton, were wounded by the assailant, who French interior minister Gerald Darmanin said shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ and ranted about Muslims dying in Afghanistan and Palestine as he launched his deadly assault. Police used a stun gun to stop the man who is being questioned by anti-terror police.

France is supposed to be on high alert following the outbreak of war in the Middle East, but there are mounting questions about how this attack was not prevented. The alleged killer had served four years in prison for planning a radical Islamist attack before being released in 2020 and placed under judicial supervision. This monitoring ended earlier this year, according to a report in Le Figaro, although the man was still subject to what is known as an ‘Individual Administrative Control and Surveillance Measure’, which is run by the interior ministry.