CCTV footage emerges of Paris Orly gun attack

Footage from the Paris Orly airport attack appears to show the assailant grabbing the soldier and trying to take her gun before being shot

The CCTV was obtained by Associated Press
The CCTV was obtained by Associated Press

CCTV footage of the Paris Orly airport attack has emerged, appearing to show a soldier caught by surprise when an attacker drops a shopping bag before grabbing her from behind.

The gunman, who has been named as Ziyed Ben Belgacem, is seen in the footage obtained by Associated Press grabbing the soldier around the shoulders as her companion patrols slightly ahead. He drops his shopping bag, which authorities said contained a flask of gasoline. Holding a revolver loaded with birdshot, he pulls her backward. For a few moments, almost no one reacts. One passenger rolls a suitcase past the hostage soldier and the second soldier continues on his way. Then, suddenly, people start backing away en mass as the attacker pulls his hostage toward them.

Yelling that he wanted to kill and die for Allah, according to the Paris prosecutor, Ben Belgacem can be seen trying to wrestle away the soldier's assault rifle near the small cluster of people.

Police believe Ben  Belgacem, a 39-year-old French citizen, intended to use the soldier’s weapon to shoot members of the public. The soldier’s colleague intervened and fired three bursts, shooting Belgacem dead.

The entire episode took less than three minutes and no one at the airport was injured.

It is believed, before launching the attack, Belgacem shot at police officers manning a checkpoint in northern Paris, the French interior minister said.

“We can link the [airport attacker’s] identity with a check carried out at Garges-les-Gonesse by a patrol in Stains this morning,” French interior minister Bruno Le Roux said.

Toxicology tests found traces of cocaine in his blood. He also had 0.93 grams of alcohol per litre of blood when he died. That is nearly twice the legal limit for driving in France. 

Belgacem's father and brother, as well as a cousin, have been detained for questioning.