Advertisement

Frenchman arrested for dressing as Halloween jihadist

AFP/The Local
AFP/The Local - [email protected]
Frenchman arrested for dressing as Halloween jihadist

A Frenchman asked police "what's the problem?" after being arrested on Halloween for being dressed as a jihadist carrying a fake rifle.

Advertisement

Police in southern France arrested a young man celebrating Halloween early on Tuesday after passers-by alerted them
to a menacing figure brandishing a rifle and shouting "Allahu Akbar" -- Arabic for 'God is greatest'.

The rifle turned out to be fake and the 26-year-old suspect, who was dressed in black and khaki, told investigators he didn't understand what the problem was, a police source in the southern city of Toulouse said.   

The youth said he had just dressed up for a night out, telling investigators: "You can do anything on Halloween".

French police and citizens are on high alert after a series of deadly attacks by Islamic extremists over the past two years, which claimed more than 200 lives.

Last year police officers in southern France banned locals from wearing "dangerous" costume accessories for Halloween after a boy dressed as Mr T sparked a terror scare.

The officers have said that any outfit that includes a fake firearm is unacceptable.

In February last year, officers in Nice launched a massive manhunt after witnesses reported seeing a man cruising around town armed with a Kalashnikov. 
 
It turned out to be a 17-year-old high school student dressed for a party as tough guy actor Mr T, known for his roles in 80s TV show The A-Team and Rocky III.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also