Despite this claim, prosecutor Ms Denis said “nobody remembers such an incident”
Irish lecturer John Dowling had allegedly ‘insulted the Prophet Mohammed’ beforebeing murdered in cold blood outside the Paris university where he taught, his killer has told French police.
The 66-year-old academic suffered 13 stab wounds during the bloodbath at which ended his life on Wednesday.
Now Ali R. – the Pakistani national under arrest for the killing – has confessed that he held a personal grudge against the teacher after failing his exams last year, and particularly hated Mr Dowling.
CCTV footage shows Mr Dowling chatting calmly with Ali at around midday, before the attacker took out a steak knife and plunged it into the Irishman’s throat, and then into his chest.
Ali claimed to police that the teacher had made fun of his Muslim religion during English classes at the university.
“He produced a drawing, which he showed off in class, insulting the Prophet Mohammed,” Ali said, according to Ms Denis.
Despite this claim, Ms Denis said “nobody remembers such an incident”.
“We don’t have proof of radicalization, but rather a feeling that we’re dealing with someone who is very religious, very pious, very practicing.”
