The brother of a man who stabbed two cousins to death in Marseille while shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ has been arrested, police have said.
Anis Hanachi, 25, was detained on an international arrested warrant in Ferrara, Italy, on Saturday and is being held on suspicion of helping plan the attack which was carried out by his 29-year-old brother Ahmed.
Police said Anis was known to have been a foreign fighter in Syria, and had been expelled from Italy to Tunisia in 2014 after arriving on a boat.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/10/09/11/45106FBE00000578-0-image-m-40_1507544852105.jpg)
Anis Hanachi, 25 (left), was arrested in Italy on Saturday and is being held on suspicion of helping brother Ahmed, 29 (right), carry out an knife attack in Marseille
![Anis (pictured being arrested) is also suspected of belonging to a terror organisation, meaning he could provide the missing link between Ahmed and extremist groups](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/10/09/11/452A760F00000578-4962420-image-m-61_1507545574555.jpg)
Anis (pictured being arrested) is also suspected of belonging to a terror organisation, meaning he could provide the missing link between Ahmed and extremist groups
![Italian police say Ahmed was arrested after a 'very complex' investigation. Anis was known to spent time in Italy before carrying out his attack](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/10/09/11/452A75FA00000578-4962420-image-m-62_1507545587369.jpg)
Italian police say Ahmed was arrested after a ‘very complex’ investigation. Anis was known to spent time in Italy before carrying out his attack
When he was arrested Anis had no documents and claimed to be Algerian but further investigation revealed his true identity.
French authorities had signaled his possible presence in Italy two days after the elder brother stabbed two cousins to death in Marseille’s main train station.
Italian authorities said they confirmed his presence in the Liguria region, which borders France, on Wednesday, and then tracked him down to Ferrara near the Adriatic coast by the weekend.
They said the fact he was arrested on a bicycle in the city indicates it’s not likely he had logistical support in the area, but that they were still investigating.
ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack, but authorities previously claimed no firm link between Ahmed and a terror organisation had been uncovered.
He stabbed cousins Mauranne and Laura, both 20, to death outside Marseille’s main train station on October 1 before being shot dead.
Ahmed was originally from a working class neighbourhood of Bizerte, in Tunisia, and spent time in Italy before launching his attack in France.
Friends from his home town described him as a drug taker who split from his wife after she had an affair with one of his friends.
![Ahmed stabbed cousins Mauranne and Laura, both 20, to death outside Marseille's main train station before being shot dead by police](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/10/09/11/44F80DDA00000578-4962420-image-m-42_1507544888298.jpg)
Ahmed stabbed cousins Mauranne and Laura, both 20, to death outside Marseille’s main train station before being shot dead by police
![Ahmed grew up in this house in Tunisia, but also spent time in Italy. He was known as a drug taker who split from his wife after she had an affair](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/10/09/11/45106EDB00000578-4962420-image-a-54_1507544934736.jpg)
Ahmed grew up in this house in Tunisia, but also spent time in Italy. He was known as a drug taker who split from his wife after she had an affair
That woman was Italian and the couple had lived in Aprilia, south of Rome, from about 2006 to 2014.
An associate, named only as Omar, said even after the marriage ended Anis shuttled between Tunisia and Italy.
His brothers helped him kick the drug habit, he said, after which he was known as a ‘bon vivant’ who frequented Bizerte cafes.
When he was in Italy, his Bizerte friends stayed in touch on social networks, where he posted photos of his activities, Omar said.
Omar described the community as ‘shocked’ to learn Hanachi was behind the Marseille attack.
‘At first, we questioned his identity and the fact he would be the executor of the operation,’ Omar said.
‘We do not know why he did it. I just can’t believe he could really do this.’
Hanachi’s older brother, Moez, insulted reporters seeking to talk to their parents or find out more about what motivated the attack.
Hanachi’s uncle Mohamed started to open up, but then changed his mind.
![While ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack, French and Tunisian authorities have no uncovered and firm links to terror groups](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/10/09/11/44F4ADDE00000578-4962420-image-a-55_1507544938837.jpg)
While ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack, French and Tunisian authorities have no uncovered and firm links to terror groups
![Mauranne and Laura were laid to rest last week, with loved ones describing Mauranne as a 'brilliant student' (pictured, tributes outside the train station)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/10/09/11/44F62C6B00000578-4962420-image-a-58_1507544947596.jpg)
Mauranne and Laura were laid to rest last week, with loved ones describing Mauranne as a ‘brilliant student’ (pictured, tributes outside the train station)
Neighbors said two of Hanachi’s brothers followed him to Italy and are believed to still be there, while his third brother remained in Bizerte with their parents.
Tunisian authorities say they have found no evidence linking Ahmed to terror groups, and while French police say they found recording of Islamic chants on his computer, there was no other obvious link to terror.
On Monday it emerged Hanachi had been arrested seven times since 2005 – giving officers a fake identity on each occasion.
The most recent arrest, for shoplifting, came just a day before the attack.
Loved ones of the victims paid tribute as they were laid to rest last week, describing Mauranne as a ‘brilliant student’.