Gun found in French lake is analysed by 2012 Alps killings investigators

Investigators are examining a Luger pistol discovered by British tourists in Lake Annecy, France, to determine if it was used in the 2012 killings of the al-Hilli family and a cyclist. The family—Saad al-Hilli, his wife Ikbal, and her mother Suhaila al-Allaf—were shot dead near Annecy in September 2012, with their two young daughters surviving. The vintage Luger pistol is similar to the weapon believed to have been used in the murders, as pieces from its butt were found at the scene. The tourists found the semi-automatic pistol on August 20 and handed it over to authorities the following day, linking it to the cold case. This discovery is the latest in a series of leads followed by investigators in the unsolved mystery.

In September 2012, Saad al-Hilli, his wife, and mother-in-law were found shot dead in their car on a forest road near Lake Annecy, France. A passing cyclist was also killed. The two al-Hilli daughters survived the attack. Investigations in France and the UK have not yet identified the perpetrator or motive. Fragments from a Luger P06 pistol found at the scene, a collector's item common in the border region with Switzerland, have been a key piece of evidence. Theories considered by police include a family dispute over money, a random act, or the cyclist being the intended target.