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'HE'S NOT A MONSTER'

Mum of ISIS priest killer describes her son as ‘soft’ and a ‘good Frenchman’ just days after he carried out brutal attack

It has also been revealed that French Intelligence were passed a picture of the attacker days before he brutally slayed a priest during mass

ABDEL Malik Petitjean, who brutally murdered a priest in Normandy in an ISIS inspired attack, was put on the terrorist watch list on June 29 after trying to get to the ISIS caliphate in Syria via Turkey.
On seeing the photo received by Uclat, Petitjean’s mother told officers: "Yes, that’s him. He’s a good Frenchman. He’s soft. I know my kid. I know by son. He’s not implicated in any of this."
 Abdelmalik Petitjean 19, was left free to kill Father Jacques Hamel despite authorities receiving a tip off
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Abdelmalik Petitjean 19, was left free to kill Father Jacques Hamel despite authorities receiving a tip offCredit: Getty Images
 Abdelmalik Petitjean's mother has said that her son is 'not a monster'
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Abdelmalik Petitjean's mother has said that her son is 'not a monster'Credit: Getty Images
The mother, who has not been named, added: "He’s not at all the monster that people want us to believe."
She said that she had spent the weekend with Petitjean at home in Aix-les-Bains and she thought ‘he had gone to stay with a cousin’ in Lorraine, another region of France.
The mother said that the last time she heard from Petitjean was when he sent a text early on Tuesday morning.
The security source said that DNA had in fact confirmed Petitjean as the man who helped murder Father Jacques.

Intelligence services received a warning that an Islamic State terrorist was preparing to strike four days before he murdered a Roman Catholic priest it emerged today.

In yet another shocking security lapse, 19-year-old Abdelmalik Petitjean was left to kill Father Jacques Hamel, 86, in the Normandy town of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray on Tuesday.

His photo had been widely distributed to police stations after the anonymous tip-off ‘from abroad’ on July 22nd.

It was received with a colour photograph of Petitjean, and said he "was preparing to take part in an attack on national territory".

The warning went on: "He’s already in France, and is preparing to act alone, or with others."

While no names were contained in the warning, Petitjean was a French national from an Alpine town, where he was educated and well known to the police.

 Abdel Malik Petitjean's picture had been widely distributed to police stations after the anonymous tip-off ‘from abroad’ on July 22nd
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Abdel Malik Petitjean's picture had been widely distributed to police stations after the anonymous tip-off ‘from abroad’ on July 22ndCredit: Getty Images

Both Petitjean and his accomplice, Adel Kermiche, also 19, were also on terrorist watch lists, and should technically have been under surveillance.

Kermiche even wore an electronic tag, but it had been switched for four hours every morning to allow him a break from probation conditions set when he left prison in March.

Police sources said the warning about Petitjean was received by Uclat, their counter terrorism coordination unit.

‘It was being acted upon, and everything was being done to track the terrorist down,’ said a source involved in the investigation into Father Jacques’ death.

‘Officers across the country were engaged in the race to find this suspect, but he evaded capture’.

 Security services are said to have received warning about an imminent terror attack
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Security services are said to have received warning about an imminent terror attackCredit: Getty Images
 A photo of Abdel Malik P., 19, (right) is being reported to have been passed to terror cops just days before the attack
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A photo of Abdel Malik P., 19, (right) is being reported to have been passed to terror cops just days before the attack

Petitjean was put on a so-called Security “S” List in June, because of his obsession with jihad, and his contacts with Isis.

Petitjean’s family home in the town of Aix-les-Bains, in the eastern Savoie department of France, has since been raided by officers.

His mother told them that she had not been in contact with Petitjean ‘since Tuesday’, suggesting he may have spoken to her just before attacking the church.

Kermiche also lived with his parents in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, near Rouen, where Petitjean linked up with him.

An identity card belonging to Petitjean was found at Kermiche’s family home, which is close to the church.

 Counter-terror cops were apparently told the date and motive of the planned attack, according to RTL
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Counter-terror cops were apparently told the date and motive of the planned attack, according to RTLCredit: Reuters
 Security forces shot the terrorists dead but were unable to prevent the attack from happening
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Security forces shot the terrorists dead but were unable to prevent the attack from happeningCredit: Reuters
 Jacques Hamel was butchered next to his own alter in a sickening execution
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Jacques Hamel was butchered next to his own alter in a sickening executionCredit: Reuters
 Sister Danielle told how she escaped the church as the pair attacked the priest
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Sister Danielle told how she escaped the church as the pair attacked the priest
 Police shot dead both attackers as they tried to flee the church
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Police shot dead both attackers as they tried to flee the churchCredit: Reuters

Before carrying out their barbaric crimes, the pair recorded a video, in which they held up an Isis sign and swore allegiance to the group’s leader, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi.

As well as murdering Father Jacques, the self-styled ‘soldiers’ took three nuns and two parishioners hostage, maiming one of the captives.

Both terrorists were shot dead by police special forces commandoes as they tried to escape from the church.

There have been widespread calls for President Francois Hollande and senior ministers to resign following the security failures that have contributed to recent atrocities.

 A third suspect was arrested after the church attack near Rouen
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A third suspect was arrested after the church attack near RouenCredit: Reuters
 Security services were already under pressure after it emerged that one of the attackers was on a terror watch list
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Security services were already under pressure after it emerged that one of the attackers was on a terror watch listCredit: Getty Images
 Adel Kermiche had an electronic tag when he carried out the brutal slaying
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Adel Kermiche had an electronic tag when he carried out the brutal slayingCredit: MARK STGEORGE
 ISIS declared the murderous pair 'soldiers of the caliphate'
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ISIS declared the murderous pair 'soldiers of the caliphate'Credit: EPA
 Tributes appeared today outside the church where Europe's latest terror atrocity took place
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Tributes appeared today outside the church where Europe's latest terror atrocity took placeCredit: EPA

The majority of those responsible for terrorist attacks which have caused up to 250 deaths in France over the past 18 months were known to the authorities.

Many were on S-lists, while others should have been serving prison sentences after travelling to and from Isis terrorist camps in Syria.

There is also widespread anger at the way the homegrown terrorists have been able to mass weapons in France.


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