Key facts
- A pistol, possibly a Luger, was found in Lake Annecy by British tourists on August 20.
- French authorities are analyzing the weapon to see if it was used in the 2012 murders of the al-Hilli family and a cyclist.
- The 2012 incident resulted in the deaths of Saad al-Hilli, his wife Iqbal, her mother Suhaila al-Allaf, and cyclist Sylvain Mollier.
- The al-Hilli family's two young daughters survived the attack.
- Fragments of a Luger P06-29 pistol were found at the 2012 crime scene, and the weapon's owner was never traced.
French authorities are examining a pistol recovered from Lake Annecy, which could be connected to the unsolved murders of a British-Iraqi family and a French cyclist that occurred 14 years ago. The weapon was found by British tourists swimming in the lake on August 20 and exhibits characteristics similar to the firearm believed to have been used in the 2012 attack.
In the 2012 incident, Saad al-Hilli, 50, his wife Iqbal, 47, her mother Suhaila al-Allaf, 74, and French cyclist Sylvain Mollier, 45, were found deceased on a mountain road near Annecy. The al-Hilli daughters, aged four and seven, were the sole survivors; the younger was found hidden, while the elder sustained gunshot wounds.
French prosecutor Marie-Céline Lawrysz confirmed that a pistol, thought to be a Luger, was uncovered by the tourists. The weapon is currently being analyzed by ballistics experts in France in connection with the al-Hilli cold case. During the initial investigation, pieces from the butt of the weapon used in the killings, a vintage Luger P06-29 pistol, were found on the ground near the family's car. The gun was identified as a model used by the Swiss army in the 1930s, but its owner has never been traced.
Lawrysz stated that the semi-automatic pistol was found by the tourists at a depth of about five feet, a few dozen meters from the shore. They reportedly kept the weapon for 24 hours, conducted online research to identify its type, and then linked it to the 2012 Chevaline killings. They handed the weapon over to gendarmes on August 21, 2026.
Detectives have previously ruled out contract killings, suggesting a professional would not use such a vintage weapon. The discovery is the latest lead in the ongoing effort to solve the mystery surrounding the four deaths. Previous suspects arrested include an Iraqi prisoner and Saad al-Hilli's brother, Zaid, who was later cleared due to insufficient evidence. In 2022, another suspect was questioned but released without charge. DNA analysis on victims' clothing and crime scene evidence in 2022 yielded no arrests.