Suspect Detained Over Murder Of British Family In French Alps Almost 10 Years Ago
Saad al-Hilli, Iqbal al-Hilli and her mother Suhaila al-Allaf were murdered alongside passing French cyclist, Sylvain Mollier
French police have detained a man for questioning in connection with a number of murders that took place in the French Alps back in 2012.
A British family were all killed during a holiday to Chevaline, near Annecy in southeast France, before passing cyclist Sylvain Mollier was also shot dead.
The attack took place back on 5 September 2012 when Saad al-Hilli, 50, his wife Iqbal al-Hilli, 47, and her mother Suhaila al-Allaf, 74, were all in a BMW car.
Mr Mollier, 45, was then shot seven times at point blank range while the Al-Hillis’ four-year-old daughter hid in the footwell and the other, a seven-year-old girl, was shot and beaten but survived her injuries.
Despite the initial investigations drying up, new developments have led to the arrest of an unnamed man who was quizzed originally.
Now, Annecy prosecutor Line Bonnet-Mathis said: "A person was detained for questioning on 12 January, 2022 at 8.05am by the Chambéry (gendarmes) search unit in connection with the murder of the al-Hilli family and Sylvain Mollier."
The prosecutor went on to explain that another statement will be issued 'at the end' of the detention before adding that the case was 'subject to the secrecy of an ongoing investigation'.
A prosecuting source also revealed that that authorities are 'examining inconsistencies in his original testament and checking out his alibi'.
Last year Line Bonnet-Mathis was appointed as prosecutor for the case and she confirmed that investigations were ongoing and the case was very much still open.
She said: "The Chevaline case is continuing, and still involves an investigating judge and investigators."
Another source said at the time: "It’s a chance for the new legal team to examine elements of the case, including inconsistencies in the testaments of witnesses."
According to the The Telegraph, people in France can be detained for up to 48 hours. This period can be prolonged in serious cases such as terrorism.
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Rebecca Shepherd