A fatal knife and hammer attack near the Eiffel Tower in central Paris has resulted in one death and two injuries, including a British national.
The incident took place just before 9:00 PM local time on Saturday, with a 26-year-old French national, known to security authorities, perpetrating the attack. Anti-terrorism prosecutors have initiated an investigation into the matter.
The victim, a German tourist employed as a nurse, was fatally stabbed on Quai de Grenelle while with his wife. Fortunately, a taxi driver's prompt intervention saved the wife's life. The assailant then fled across a nearby bridge spanning the River Seine.
After crossing the river, he assaulted two more individuals, including a 66-year-old British man, striking him in the eye with a hammer. Police used a Taser to subdue and apprehend the suspect, who faces charges of premeditated murder and attempted assassination in connection with a terrorist act.
Identified as Armand R, a 26-year-old French national with Iranian heritage, the suspect's arrest was captured in online videos by armed police close to the attack site.
The two injured individuals, a Frenchman approximately 60 years old and a British tourist, received emergency treatment and are reported to be in stable conditions, according to Health Minister Aurélien Rousseau.
The alleged attacker reportedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" during the assault and expressed grievances about the deaths of Muslims in Afghanistan and Palestine, accusing France of complicity.
The suspect had previously served four years in prison for planning an attack and was supposed to undergo psychiatric treatment after his release in 2020.
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the "terrorist attack" and offered condolences to the victims, vowing justice through the national anti-terrorist prosecutor's office.
This incident follows a recent knife attack at a high school in Arras, where a teacher was killed, prompting heightened national security measures in France. Photo by Moonik, Wikimedia commons.