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Paris knifeman killed tourist ‘because Muslims are dying in Gaza’
The 26-year-old terror suspect is said to have shouted ‘allahu akbar’ as he attacked
December 3, 2023 14:28
By, Felix Pope
1 min read
The 26-year-old terror suspect is said to have shouted ‘allahu akbar’ as he attacked
December 3, 2023 14:28ByFelix Pope, Felix Pope
A knifeman killed one man and injured two other people in Paris because Muslims are dying in Gaza, French authorities have said.
On Saturday evening, the 26-year-old first attacked a couple near the Eiffel Tower, fatally injuring a German tourist.
After a taxi driver intervened and defended the man’s wife, he then crossed the Seine river to continue his assault.
He is said to have then targeted two other people, hitting one in the eye with a hammer, before he was tasered by police and finally brought to a halt.
One British and one French national, both in their 60s, were injured.
Speaking to the press, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said of the attacker: “He told police who had just arrested him that he could no longer bear.... to see Muslims die, in Afghanistan and in Palestine.”
The terror suspect allegedly also shouted “allahu akbar,” Arabic for “god is the greatest,” as he carried out his assault.
The French national was reportedly known to security services and had served four years in prison for planning another attack in 2016.
According to AFP, the attacker was born in 1997 to Iranian parents.
A video posted on social media on Saturday shows the suspect criticising the French government and discussing what he described as the murder of innocent Muslims, the agency also reported.
Darmanin said the man was known to have suffered psychiatric disorders in the past.
The UK Foreign Office said: "We are supporting a British man who was injured in Paris and are in contact with the local authorities."
Neither of the two injured victims are believed to be in a life threatening condition.
Writing on X/Twitter, President Emmanuel Macron thanked the emergency services for responding and expressed his condolences to the family of the German victim.
“My most sincere thanks to the emergency forces who made it possible to quickly arrest a suspect,” he said.
“The national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office now seized will be responsible for shedding light on this matter so that justice can be done in the name of the French people.”
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne declared meanwhile: "We will not give in to terrorism.”