Suspect in French beheading case hangs self

Facing murder charges and suspected of ties to the Islamic State group, Yassin Salhi commits suicide in his cell

Emergency services outside a factory where a man was beheaded in a terrorist attack, in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, France, Friday, June 26, 2015. (I Tele via AP)
Emergency services outside a factory where a man was beheaded in a terrorist attack, in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, France, Friday, June 26, 2015. (I Tele via AP)

PARIS (AP) — French authorities say a man suspected of beheading a businessman at a French gas factory in June has killed himself in his prison cell.

Deputy Prosecutor Jean-Michel Bourles in Evry, a Paris suburb, said Wednesday that Yassin Salhi hanged himself with an electric cable Tuesday night in Fleury-Merogis prison. The former delivery driver faced preliminary murder and terrorism charges and was suspected of ties to Islamic State extremists.

The attack in France’s southeast put the country back on high alert after January’s deadly extremist attacks against satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and a kosher market in Paris.

French prosecutors said Salhi lured his boss into a van, knocked him unconscious and beheaded him. Salhi allegedly carried a long-bladed knife, a gun and two brand-new flags emblazoned with the Muslim declaration of faith.

Most Popular
read more:
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.