The knife-wielding maniac shouted “Allahu Akbar” as he attacked and killed a civilian passerby — before setting upon a group of municipal officers in Mulhouse, France.

As he began his attack, the 37-year-old was heard shouting, “Allahu akbar,” according to France’s antiterrorism police. The Arabic phrase, meaning “God is great,” is an everyday expression used in religious and nonreligious settings alike, but has also become a war cry in some terrorist attacks by Islamic fundamentalists.

French prosecutors have said the Algerian suspect in the stabbing attack in the city of Mulhouse was already on a terror prevention watchlist. France's interior minister later visited the city.