French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced yesterday, Saturday, that one person was killed and two others were injured after a French man attacked tourists in central Paris near the Eiffel Tower. The minister told reporters that police quickly apprehended the 26-year-old Frenchman using a stun gun. He stated that the suspect had previously been sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 for planning another attack, is listed on French security services' watchlist, and suffers from mental disorders.
The attack occurred around 7:00 PM GMT when the man assaulted two tourists with a knife just a few meters from the Eiffel Tower, resulting in the death of a German national. While being chased by the police, he attacked two more individuals with a hammer before being arrested. Darmanin reported that the suspect shouted slogans and told the police he was upset because "many Muslims are dying in Afghanistan and Palestine" and was also distressed about the situation in Gaza.
The anti-terrorism public prosecutor's office is taking over the investigation into the incident. This event, which took place in central Paris, comes less than eight months before the capital is set to host the Olympic Games, raising concerns about security during the global sporting event. The French capital plans to hold an unprecedented opening ceremony on the Seine River, expected to attract up to 600,000 spectators.
