A French civilian police worker who murdered four colleagues with a knife has been linked to a radical Islamist terrorist organisation.

Michael Harpon, 45, was shot dead following the rampage inside the historic Paris Police Prefecture, next door to Notre Dame Cathedral, on Thursday afternoon.

His wife, Iham, was arrested soon afterwards and told detectives that Harpon had ‘heard voices’ and was ‘incoherent and suffered a dementia attack’ the night before.

Now, following a raid on the couple’s flat in the Paris suburb on Gonesse, anti-terrorist prosecutors in the French capital have opened an enquiry for ‘assassination of a public servant in relation to a terrorist enterprise.'

Computer records and telephone intercepts have linked Harpon to a ‘radical Islamist group’ such as ISIS of Al-Qaeda, said a source close to the case.

Iham Harpon remains in custody, and is also believed to have offered evidence against her husband.

The couple were both registered as profoundly deaf, and have two children aged nine and three.

Iham is now communicating with officers through sign language, making her interview ‘very complicated,’ said the source.

Harpon, who originally came from the French overseas territory of Martinique, stabbed a senior officer and three guardians of the peace to death.

They have been identified as General Damien E., 50, Brice L., 38, Anthony L., also 38, and Aurelia T., 39.

Investigators now believe there was a terrorist motivation for the slaughter, which caused the worst loss of French police lives in a single day since World War II.

Harpon had converted to Islam 18 months ago, and his wife is also a Muslim who comes from an Arab background.

The nature of the attack corresponded with similar ones carried out by terrorists affiliated to ISIS and Al-Qaeda.

‘Many of those involved in similar attacks on the police have been Muslim converts influenced by radical terrorist groups,’ said the source.

Colleagues described Harpon as a previously trusted employee who had full security clearance to work in the Prefecture’s IT department.

The security crisis led to President Emmanuel Macron visiting the building in person, along with his Prime Minister, Edouard Philippe, and Interior Minister Christophe Castaner.

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