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.

One person is dead and multiple police officers are injured following a knife attack in a city in Eastern France Saturday, officials confirmed.