Gun Found in French Lake Being Examined for 2012 Alps Murders
A handgun found by tourists in Lake Annecy in France is being examined by ballistics experts in connection with the unsolved 2012 murder case of a British family and a French cyclist.
A semi-automatic handgun discovered underwater by tourists in Lake Annecy in eastern France has been taken in for examination as part of the still-unsolved 2012 Alps murders investigation that left four people dead.
Weapon Found in the Lake
Two tourists swimming in Lake Annecy in France discovered a handgun a few dozen metres from the shore and at a depth of about five feet.
The Tourists' Reporting Process
After keeping the weapon with them for 24 hours, the tourists conducted research online, linked the gun to the Chevaline murders, and handed it over to the gendarmerie on August 21, 2026.
The 2012 Attack
In the attack carried out in September 2012 near a remote village in the French Alps, Saad al-Hilli, his wife Ikbal, and her mother Suhaila al-Allaf were killed.
Survivors of the Attack and Another Victim
The family's two young daughters, aged four and seven at the time of the incident, survived the attack, while a 45-year-old passing cyclist, Sylvain Mollier, also lost his life.
Prosecutor's Statement and Expert Examination
French prosecutor Marie-Céline Lawrysz confirmed that the handgun, believed to be a Luger type, is being examined by ballistics experts in France in connection with the al-Hilli file.
Past Findings
During the initial investigation, grip parts belonging to a vintage Luger P06-29 pistol used by the Swiss army in the 1930s were found near the BMW vehicle at the scene, but the owner of the weapon was never identified.
Hitman Possibility
Detectives have so far ruled out the possibility of a contract killer, stating that a professional hitman would not choose such an old and vintage weapon.
Current Status of the Investigation
The latest discovery marks the newest step taken to shed light on the mystery surrounding the deaths of four people, while past arrests and investigations have not yet resulted in a successful conviction.