Cyclist was 'collateral victim' in Alps shooting

French investigators said Monday that a cyclist killed with a British-Iraqi family in the Alps was still considered an innocent bystander, denying press reports he was believed to be the prime target. The statement came as a relative of the family criticised the French police's murder investigation for concentrating on the possible involvement of the family in last month's attack while dismissing other lines of inquiry. Following weekend reports in the French and British press that investigators were focusing on the cyclist, Annecy prosecutor Eric Maillaud told AFP police still believed the man, Sylvain Mollier, had been shot after stumbling on to the crime. "We are looking in every direction. All possibilities, even the most incredible, are being considered," he said, but added that police had not changed their focus to Mollier. "The number one theory is that he was a collateral victim," Maillaud said. "In principle, he was in the wrong place at the wrong time." French newspaper Le Parisien reported on Friday that ballistics tests showed that Mollier was the first to be shot, but Maillaud told AFP on Saturday that police do not know which of the four victims was killed first. Saad al-Hilli, 50, his wife Iqbal, 47, and her mother Suhaila al-Allaf, 74, were all found dead inside their estate car near Lake Annecy on September 5. Mollier was found shot dead outside. The couple's two young daughters survived the attack. Following the weekend reports, Iqbal's uncle Ahmed al-Saffar told BBC radio that investigators needed to be more careful. "I think the French prosecutor also focused on the family without presenting any evidence. It's kind of wild speculation," he said. He said that speculation that the murders were motivated by a family feud had increased relatives' suffering. "What is unfortunate is what comes out in the media from the French prosecutor focusing on the family and dismissing all other lines of investigation, this has made actually a great damage to the family," he said. Saffar said he could not think why the family were targeted. "I personally don't believe in any of these lines and I think the French prosecutor should make a professional investigation and a professional approach and don't dismiss any part or any line. "Just focusing on the family, it is not fair and it is not the right thing." His niece was a "very lovely girl" who was "devoted to her family", and she and her husband were a perfect couple, he said. Their daughters have been told what happened to their parents, Saffar said. "They are very traumatised," he said. The family, who lived in Surrey, southwest of London, were on a camping holiday when they were attacked.