Family of murdered Orthodox pensioner claim antisemitism was covered up

Witnesses claim that the suspect, an African immigrant, shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the attack – though this has not been confirmed.

After the murder, members of Paris’ Jewish community held a vigil and march outside Dr Halimi’s apartment.

Relatives believe Dr Halimi’s death was treated as a simple murder to avoid inflaming religious tensions during the presidential and parliamentary elections.

Jean-Alexandre Buchinger, a lawyer for the family, said: “This drama was an antisemitic assassination.” He said that the death had been made “to look like a suicide”.

Jewish groups also believe that the nature of the attack could have been concealed to help the National Front ahead of the election.