French Alps survivor still unable to help

2012-09-12 13:00

British Scenes of Crime forensic officer inside the home of Saad al-Hilli, in Claygate, England, as investigations continue into the death of four people shot dead in the French Alps. (AP, File)

Annecy - Detectives probing a shooting in the French Alps were still waiting on Wednesday to interview a 7-year-old survivor, a week after the unexplained attack that left four people dead.

"The little girl has still not been interviewed," a police spokesperson said without offering further details on the condition of Zainab al-Hilli, who has been hospitalised since suffering serious head injuries in the attack.

Investigators are keen to talk to Zainab having apparently made little progress in establishing why her parents, grandmother and a passing cyclist were shot dead on 5 September near the Alpine village of Chevaline.

Prosecutor Eric Maillaud was due to update the media later on Wednesday on the progress of the investigation.

Police have spent days searching the home of Saad and Iqbal al-Hilli on the outskirts of London but have yet to announce any discovery there that could shed light on why the couple were killed alongside Iqbal's 74-year-old mother and Frenchman Sylvain Mollier.

French police have established that one gun was used for all 25 shots fired at the scene and also that the al-Hilli family changed campsites for an unknown reason two days before the attack.

Maillaud and judge Michel Mollin are to travel to London on Thursday for an update on progress on the other side of the Channel.

As well as searching the house and probing Saad al-Hilli's business affairs, British police have questioned his brother about a reported family dispute over money, which the brother denies.

- AFP