Perpetrator of fatal stabbing in France was a practicing Muslim, according to his father

French authorities detained a fifth individual on Sunday in an anti-terrorism probe aiming to discover any accomplices and motives on the heels of a murder at the entrance of a police station in Rambouillet on Friday.

The Tunisian assailant was fatally shot by a police officer after perpetrating a deadly stabbing against an unarmed administrative employee, according to the Associated Press.

"In a news conference on Sunday, anti-terrorism prosecutor Jean-Francois Ricard said police are questioning a cousin of the suspect," the outlet reported. "The suspect's father, a couple who had provided him with an address for mail and other uses, and another cousin were also being questioned, Ricard said," the AP noted.

The now-deceased assailant, James G., had entered the nation of France unlawfully in 2009 and received residency papers in 2019, Ricard noted. 

"He was a practicing Muslim according to his father, Ricard added," the AP reported.

"He had staked out the police station ahead of time and listened to religious songs inciting 'jihad' just before the attack, according to evidence on his mobile phone. Witnesses heard him say 'Allahu akbar!' — Arabic for 'God is great' — during the attack, he said," according to the outlet. "He went to psychiatric consultations in Rambouillet on Feb. 19 and Feb. 23 yet his condition involved no need for hospitalization or treatment, according to Ricard. He then travelled to Tunisia from Feb. 25 to March 13."