French investigators are examining a pistol recovered from Lake Annecy as part of their ongoing inquiry into the 2012 murders of a British-Iraqi family and a local man in the French Alps. The firearm, identified as a Luger, was found by British tourists scuba diving near the Le Solitaire du Lac campsite, where the al-Hilli family had been staying shortly before the shooting.

The victims—Saad al-Hilli, 50, his wife Iqbal, 47, his mother-in-law Suhaila al-Allaf, 74, and Sylvain Mollier, 45, a local cyclist—were fatally shot at an isolated clearing overlooking Lake Annecy near the village of Chevaline. The family, from Claygate in Surrey, were found in their BMW vehicle. Saad al-Hilli and his family are believed to have been shot with a 7.65mm Luger P06/29 pistol, a model once issued to the Swiss army in the early 20th century. Fragments of the pistol’s distinctive red handgrip, broken at the time of the attack, were recovered at the scene.

The pistol discovered in the lake is currently undergoing forensic examination to determine whether it is linked to the killings. Prosecutors from a specialist cold case unit in the Paris region confirmed the find but have not disclosed whether the recovered weapon is the specific P06/29 model used in the murders. Investigators are focusing on ballistics analysis to see if the pistol fired the 21 bullets found at the scene, 17 of which struck the victims. They also plan to assess how long the weapon may have been submerged and to examine its serial number for additional leads. Although DNA evidence might be severely degraded due to water exposure, experts believe there remains a slight possibility of recovering usable genetic material.

The investigation, led by Judge Sabine Khéris, who specializes in cold cases, has spanned more than 14 years with numerous lines of inquiry yielding limited results. Among the theories considered were a revenge motive stemming from a family dispute, or a connection to Saad al-Hilli’s work in satellite technology; both have been discounted due to insufficient evidence. Another hypothesis proposed that the attack targeted Mollier, who worked for a branch of the French nuclear group Areva (now Orano), but this too was ruled out.

Authorities also considered that the killings might have been a random act of violence. A firearms expert suggested the perpetrator had specialist military training but may have acted erratically during the incident. Investigators questioned a Danish tourist who had stayed at the same campsite and left on the day of the murders; this individual had also camped near the site of another murder in France a year earlier. Additionally, a Lyon businessman observed riding a motorbike near the crime scene was interviewed twice but ultimately excluded as a suspect.

Despite extensive investigations and the expertise of Judge Khéris, who has a reputation for resolving difficult cold cases, no definitive breakthrough has been achieved so far. The recent discovery of the Luger in Lake Annecy has generated cautious optimism among some, but officials emphasize that conclusive links have yet to be established. The inquiry remains active as forensic teams continue to analyse the weapon for potential new evidence.