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ALPS

Alps murders probe held back by Iraq safety fears

An investigation into the cold-blooded murders of a three members of a British Iraqi family and a French cyclist in the Alps has been held back by France's Foreign Ministry after it blocked a request by French judges to visit Iraq.

Alps murders probe held back by Iraq safety fears
The lay-by where the brutal murders took place in September 20012. Photo: AFP

Saad al-Hilli, 50, his wife Iqbal, 47, from Surrey and grandmother Suhaila al-Allaf, 74, who lived in Sweden, were all gunned down in their car on September 5th not far from the town of Annecy. French cyclist Sylvain Mollier, 45, was also killed nearby.

The al-Hilli's two daughters – seven-year-old Zeinab, and four-year-old Zeena – survived the attack.

Detectives, who have so far been unable to find a motive for the murders, had hoped to visit Saad al-Hilli’s home country of Iraq to see whether they could unearth any clues that might lead them to find those responsible for his assassination.

But the French Foreign Ministry in Paris has told investigators that the ongoing security situation in Iraq meant it was too dangerous to sanction their visit, despite prosecutors stressing the need that al-Hilli's background might hold the key to the solving the murders.

Recent reports in the British media claimed that former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein had deposited almost €100,000 into al-Hilli’s Swiss bank account.

French authorities had written to their counterparts in Iraq seeking cooperation but when they received no response they decided the best move would be to visit Iraq in person.

Investigators want to understand the reasons why Saad al-Hilli left Iraq in the 1980s, believing it could shed some light on why he was assassinated. But for now that line of inquiry has been “frozen” according to prosecutor in Annecy Eric Maillaud.

Talking earlier this year about the need to go to Iraq Maillaud said: “The aim is to see if we can make a link between the murders and the Iraqi origins of the victims.

“We want to know exactly what Saad al-Hilli’s father did professionally in Iraq, where he got his wealth from and why he left the country.”

The Foreign Office's decision is a blow to investigators who have been under intense pressure to find  the killers.

Earlier this month prosecutor Maillaud told The Local that the killers may never be found but that it was too early to give up.

"Of course it is possible we will never find them, but it's too early to conclude that.

"The investigation is only six months old, which in terms of police inquiries is a very short period of time. It's out of the question that we will be thinking like that now," he said.

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SKI

Dad’s ‘miracle escape’ after being buried by avalanche in French Alps

A man out walking with his family in the French Alps has made a miraculous escape from an avalanche after spending more than two and a half hours trapped under snow, rescuers said.

Dad's 'miracle escape' after being buried by avalanche in French Alps
Ski lifts in France are closed, but visitors and locals are free to enjoy other outdoor sports. Photo: AFP

The 50-year-old father was snowshoeing near the high-altitude Val d'Isere ski resort with his wife and two children on Thursday without anti-avalanche safety equipment.

“Thank to the mobilisation of nearly 100 people… the man was found alive after two hours and 40 minutes of searching,” the police for the local Savoie département announced on Twitter.

Because of the depth of the snow, rescue dogs were unable to detect a trace, but the man was eventually dug out by a specialised mountain police team which used a Wolfhound device to locate his mobile phone under the ice.

“I think it's a miracle,” Alexandre Grether from the PGHM rescue team told the France 3 local news channel, adding that the man was found 2.5 metres (eight feet) below the surface.

The chances of survival after more than 20 minutes in an avalanche are usually slim.

“He was protected by a tree, that's what prevented him from being crushed by all the ice that slid down. The snow had surrounded him, but he had a pocket of air,” he explained.

The victim is expected to make a full recovery after suffering a fracture to his hip.

The avalanche risk on Thursday was at its maximum – five on a scale of five – and rescuers urge people to always check the snow conditions before venturing out.

READ ALSO 'Whole season a write-off' – what next for France's ski resorts?

Ski lifts in the Alps, which have seen some of their heaviest snowfalls in years in January, are currently closed because of restrictions imposed by the government to limit the spread of Covid-19.

Visitors and locals are free to enjoy hiking, cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing, but occupancy levels in hotels and chalets are way down and business owners and seasonal staff face serious hardships.

The government has promised an economic support package for the sector.

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