Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announced on Saturday that a man had attacked tourists in central Paris, close to the Eiffel Tower, resulting in one death and two injuries.
Using a Taser stun gun, police apprehended the French national, 26, very quickly, Darmanin told reporters.
The interior minister also stated that the suspect was on the watch list of the French security services, had been given a four-year prison sentence in 2016 for plotting another attack, and had a history of mental health issues.
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The man fatally wounded a German national at the Quai de Grenelle, a short distance from the Eiffel Tower, when he attacked a tourist couple with a knife at around 1900 GMT. After being pursued by the police, he used a hammer to attack two more people before being taken into custody.
According to Darmanin, the suspect informed police that he was angry about the Gaza situation as well as the fact that “so many Muslims are dying in Afghanistan and Palestine” and that he had yelled “Allahu Akbar” (God is greatest).
The investigation is under the purview of the office of the anti-terrorism prosecutor.
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Less than eight months before the French capital hosts the Olympic Games, an incident that happened in central Paris on Saturday night may raise concerns about security at the major international sporting event.
Paris is organizing a historic opening ceremony on the Seine River, which could potentially attract 600,000 spectators.
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