Suspect in Louvre attack starts talking to investigators

The machete-wielding man arrested by police for attacking soldiers near the entrance to Louvre Museum on Friday has started answering investigators' questions after initially refusing to talk, local media reported Tuesday.

The suspect, a 29-year Egyptian identified as Abdullah Reda al-Hamamy, during a third hearing on Monday started talking to investigators, giving his identity and presenting his version of the facts, the news channel BFMTV reported.

On Friday morning, the man armed with two machetes attacked four soldiers patrolling the Carrousel du Louvre shopping center in the French capital shouting "Allahou Akbar."

He slightly injured a soldier in his scalp before he was shot and seriously wounded.

The suspect was placed in custody on Saturday after he was declared able to answer investigators questions over his attack.

Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said the man arrived in France from Dubai at the end of January after acquiring a one-month tourist visa.

Investigation is under way to determine the motive and to establish whether he acted alone or have been guided, he added.

source: Xinhua