France already calls it “the backpack hero“. Is about Henry, a 24-year-old Catholic pilgrim visiting the majestic cathedrals of southwestern France when, on Thursday, he came face to face with the man who was stabbing several children under the age of three in an Annecy park. Of the four injured children, two are still in critical condition, as well as one of the adults.
What happened next was recorded on the mobile phones of the tourists and makes it National hero: grabbed his pilgrim backpack, ran towards the attacker and confronted him, who knows if saving the lives of those minors.
Despite the bravery shown, Henri H., a Graduated in Philosophy and passionate about cathedrals -his Instagram profile is called Le chant des cathedrales (The Song of the Cathedrals)-, he had never been involved in any similar situation.
✝️⚜️?? catholique, scout, Français : Henri le héros d’Annecy, un exemple pour tous les jeunes qui a montré la valeur de ces trois engagements ?? pic.twitter.com/tqsYZpAgfb
—Charles Prats APM ??⚖️ (@CharlesPrats) June 9, 2023
Nevertheless, Henri didn’t think twice. In the video you can see how the young man dodges a blow from the attacker with a twist worthy of Muhammad Ali. Protecting himself with another smaller bag, he immediately begins to chase the man until he manages to kick him out of the playground.
In another video filmed from the large Pâquier esplanade, Henri leaves his largest backpack, keeping the little one for protection, to better run after the attacker. He then throws the bag at the man to try to neutralize him.
The French media have limited themselves to calling him “héros au sac à dos” (the hero with the backpack), but he has already spoken on CNEWS and will meet with the president, Emmanuel Macronlate on Friday.
“Thank you for the messages of support, my thoughts are especially with the victims and their parents“, Henri has said on his social networks. This fact marks a halt in Henri’s travels, who has been touring French cathedrals since March, but it does not put an end to his adventure. His challenge: pilgrimage on foot through the 280 cathedrals in the country.
two children, serious
The French Ministry of the Interior has reported that four children, between 22 months and three years, and two retirees were stabbed by the attacker, a Syrian asylum seeker who had lived in Sweden for ten years, but where he left after failing to obtain citizenship. There he left a three year old daughter and his wifewho says he has not had contact with him since he left for France eight months ago.
Two of the injured children and one adult are in hospital in critical condition, while the other victims suffered less serious injuries. children are from British nationality and, the other, of the Netherlands.
[Cuatro niños y dos adultos heridos por un ataque con cuchillo en un parque de Annecy, al sur de Francia]
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne reported that the attacker, who remains in police custody, is a 31-year-old Syrian citizen who had legally entered France. However, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said that France had rejected an asylum application submitted by the suspect earlier this month.
When he was arrested shortly after the attack, the man was carrying Swedish identity documents and a driver’s license, also issued by Sweden. Besides, wore “certain Christian religious regalia”.
The local prosecutor leading the investigation said that there are no indications that terrorism was the motivation of the attacker.
