Police officer's murder sends jihadist threat shuddering through France

This Friday, a 49-year-old police officer was fatally stabbed to death in the town of Ramboulliet, near Paris. The French National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office is investigating the incident. The assailant, a 36-year-old Tunisian national, was shot dead by police. According to AFP, the man reportedly shouted "Allah is great" as he lunged at the victim. The authorities have already arrested three people, who are in custody, in connection with the attacker.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on social media that France will not cease "the fight against Islamist terrorism". Jean Castex, the prime minister, has travelled to the scene. Castex expressed his support for the victim's family, whom he called "a heroine". "Our determination to fight terrorism in all its forms is more intact than ever," the prime minister stressed. French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has also condemned the attack, stressing the profile of the attacker. 

Since 2012, the number of victims of attacks linked to Islamic fundamentalism has risen to 269. The most recent high-profile case that shocked the entire country occurred six months ago. A teacher, Samuel Paty, was brutally beheaded by a young man of Chechen origin. The extremist murdered the teacher for teaching an image of Mohammed, which is forbidden in Islam. The profile of the killer matches the characteristics of the attackers in recent cases. A man who attacks alone and with no previous convictions. For this reason, the French authorities have increased security in police stations, the places where these "lone wolves" usually attack.

France has decided to deal with the terrorist threat through a reform that confronts radical Islamism. The measure, passed in March, was backed by 347 votes in favour. The main objective of the reform is to control hate speech on the internet, a key means of recruitment and radicalisation. The bill will also strengthen the monitoring of religious centres, with the possibility of closing them down if they spread extremist ideas. Some measures of this reform have caused anger in some Muslim-majority countries, such as Pakistan and Turkey. The leaders of both countries have called for a boycott of French products because of what they consider "an attack on Islam". Moreover, in Pakistan, the most Islamist sectors called for the expulsion of the French ambassador, while discontent was expressed in the streets with violent protests.