Macron pays tribute to the killed officials and calls to "block" against Islamism

Macron spoke at a tribute ceremony in the courtyard of the prefecture, where Mickael Harpon, employed as a computer scientist since 2003, was shot Thursday by a young policeman after seven minutes of murderous journey.

The president promised that a "relentless fight" would be waged "against Islamist terrorism," calling on the French to "pull together." "Your colleagues have fallen under the blows of a misguided and deadly Islam that it is up to us to eradicate", launched the head of state, calling "the whole nation" to "mobilize" face to "Islamist Hydra". "The light will be made, the questions raised, the responsibilities established, justice will pass," he also said.

On the front of the investigation, the anti-terrorist services have, according to the Parisian, got their hands on a USB key containing Islamic State propaganda videos and contact information for colleagues. This key was found at his office, according to a source close to the file. They look for possible accomplices in the radical circles, and to clarify the nature of the information to which the attacker could have access to the prefecture.

In the courtyard of the police headquarters, silence was heavy among the hundreds of people gathered in the rain, facing four coffins covered with the French flag installed in front of the war memorial.

Legion of Honor posthumously

Before delivering his speech, Mr. Macron, accompanied by Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and Ministers of Justice Nicole Belloubet and the Armies Florence Parly, first went to speak to the families of the victims.

Previously, his Minister of the Interior awarded the Legion of Honor, posthumously, to the four people killed: Damien Ernest, major in charge of a local police unit (28 years of service), Anthony Lancelot, guardian of the peace (11 years old), Brice Le Mescam, principal administrative assistant (6 years old) and Aurélia Trifiro, peacekeeper (17 years old).

This solemn tribute offers only a short respite to Christophe Castaner, much criticized after this murderous attack in the heart of an administration supposed to be one of the spearheads of state security. The opposition, on the right and on the extreme right, demands his resignation, excluded by the interested party, who nevertheless acknowledged a "state dysfunction".