“Terrorist Attack Near Eiffel Tower Leaves One Dead, Several Injured”
A fatal incident occurred in central Paris near the Eiffel Tower, resulting in the death of one individual and the injury of two others following an assault by a man, as announced by Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin on Saturday. The 26-year-old assailant, a French citizen, was swiftly apprehended by the police using a Taser stun gun, Darmanin informed the press.
The attacker, previously sentenced to a four-year prison term in 2016 for plotting another assault, was under surveillance by French security services. Additionally, he was recognized for grappling with psychiatric issues, the interior minister disclosed. The assault transpired around 1900 GMT when the perpetrator targeted a tourist couple with a knife on the Quai de Grenelle, close to the Eiffel Tower, fatally injuring a German national. Subsequently, he fled but was pursued by law enforcement and assaulted two more individuals with a hammer before being taken into custody.
Darmanin revealed that the suspect exclaimed “Allahu Akbar” (God is greatest) during the attack and expressed distress to the police about the high numbers of Muslim casualties in Afghanistan and Palestine, alongside grievances concerning the Gaza situation. The anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office took charge of the investigation following the incident.
This occurrence on a Saturday night in central Paris, occurring less than eight months prior to the city hosting the Olympic Games, may prompt inquiries regarding security arrangements for the global sporting event. Paris is preparing for an unprecedented opening ceremony on the Seine river that could potentially attract up to 600,000 spectators.
