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French police issue sketch of Alps massacre suspect

The sketch is of a middle-aged man suspected of the shooting murders of a British family and a French cyclist near Chevaline in September 2012.

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French police issued on Monday a composite sketch of a man investigators are searching for in connection to the shocking September 2012 murder of a UK family and a French cyclist near the Alpine city of Chevaline, reports FRANCE 24.

The sketch is of a middle-aged man with a goatee and wearing a large motorcycle helmet.

Police called anyone who recognises the man in the sketch to come forward. The police highlighted the “black or dark” coloured helmet which has an unusual side opening.

The mysterious biker was seen by witnesses near the scene of the shooting in which Saad al Hilli, a 50-year-old British-Iraqi businessman, his wife and her mother were gunned down.

However, Hilli's two daughters survived the gruesome attack.

French amateur cyclist Sylvain Mollier, believed by police to be an innocent bystander, was also found dead at the crime scene.

Police said that the presence of the bearded rider on the day of the killings was established early in the investigation, but a sketch was not made public immediately because it was thought the unique helmet could lead them to the suspect before he was tipped off.

Read more of this report from FRANCE 24.