French authorities are examining a semi-automatic pistol recovered from Lake Annecy for possible connections to the unsolved 2012 murders of three members of a British family and a French cyclist in the Alps. The investigation was confirmed by Prosecutor Marie-Celine Lawrysz.

On August 20, two tourists swimming in Lake Annecy discovered the weapon at a depth of approximately five feet, a short distance from the shore. After holding the pistol for 24 hours, the pair conducted online research and suspected it could be linked to the killings. They subsequently handed over the firearm to local authorities on August 21. The pistol, believed to be a Luger model, is now undergoing ballistic analysis by French experts to determine whether it matches the weapon used in the murders.

The victims, Saad al-Hilli, 50, an Iraqi-born engineer, his wife Ikbal, 47, a dentist, and her mother Suhaila al-Allaf, 74, were found shot dead in their vehicle near Annecy on September 5, 2012. Also killed was 45-year-old French cyclist Sylvain Mollier. Two daughters from the al-Hilli family survived the attack.

Since the murders, several suspects have been questioned. Among them was an Iraqi prisoner, identified only as Mr. S, who allegedly claimed he had been offered a large sum to kill Iraqis living in the United Kingdom. In 2013, Zaid al-Hilli, the brother of Saad al-Hilli, was arrested but later released without charges. Another individual was questioned in 2022 and subsequently released.

The case remains open as investigators continue to explore leads following the discovery of the pistol, which may provide new insight into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.