Killer on the loose : Saad Al-Hilli and his wife Iqbal from Surrey were murdered in France in 2012 . Detectives investigating the murders of four people including members of a British family in the French Alps have ruled out a mystery biker seen close to the scene , it emerged today . It was on September 5 , 2012 that Surrey engineer Saad Al-Hilli , 50 , and his wife , Iqbal , 47 , died alongside her mother and a French cyclist . The Al-Hillis ' daughters , Zainab , seven at the time , and Zeena , four , survived the savage attack close to Lake Annecy , in eastern France . The motorcyclist wearing a highly distinctive helmet was spotted nearby , and many felt certain that he would unlock the mystery of what really happened . But now it has emerged that he was ‘ positively identified ’ last month , and has now been ‘ ruled out as the murderer ’ . A legal source close to police in Chambery , who interviewed the unidentified man , said : ‘ He was seen on a nearby road within minutes of the murders , but it took many months to track him down. ’ The man is from Lyon , eastern France , and was paragliding in the Alps during particular warm weather . ‘ He is no longer considered suspicious , but may be re-interviewed over what he may have seen around the area , ’ said the source . It was in 2013 that the police finally issued a photo-fit image of the motorcyclist , and this is thought to have helped identify him . The latest development is a huge setback for Eric Maillaud , the prosecutor leading the enquiry , who has already admitted that those responsible may never be caught . Conceding that the enquiry could go on for years to come , Mr Maillaud said last year : ‘ We have tried everything possible , but perhaps we ’ re in the presence of the perfect crime. ’ Murders : The Al-Hillis died alongside Mrs Al-Hilli 's mother and a French cyclist , while their two young daughters survived the savage attack close to Lake Annecy , in eastern France . Mrs Al-Hilli died next to her mother , Suhaila al-Allaf , 74 , while local cyclist Sylvain Mollier , 45 , was killed by a hail of bullets before being dragged along the ground and crushed by a car . Not a suspect : A forensic drawing shows the motorcyclist who has now been ruled out . There have been claims that Mr Al-Hilli was involved in a dispute over a family inheritance with his brother Zaid Al-Hilli , 54 , of Chessington , Surrey . Zaid Al-Hilli was arrested in 2013 under suspicion of conspiracy to murder but then released because he has a watertight alibi . Eric Devouassoux , a 49-year-old old former policeman from the Annecy area , also spent four days in custody over the killings in February . The gun collector is still being investigated for arms trafficking , but there has been no legal action linked to the four murders . There are also well sourced claims that cyclist Mr Mollier may have been the intended victim due . He was linked to a multi-million pounds fortune through his relationship with an heiress . Zainab and Zeena , the surviving daughters , are now in the care of members of the Al-Hillis ' extended family . They have been given round-the-clock security because those responsible for the murders are still at large .
French police has ruled out a suspect in the 2012 Iqbal murders . Saad Iqbal , 50 , his wife , Al-Hilli , 47 , her mother and a cyclist were killed . A motorcyclist seen near the scene in Lake Annecy has been eliminated .