A man stabbed six people, including one seriously, on Wednesday morning at the Gare du Nord in Paris, before being “neutralized” by several shots from the police.
The facts took place shortly before 6:45 a.m. in the station, located in the heart of the 10th arrondissement of Paris, at a busy hour.
There was no evidence at 9:00 a.m. to suggest a terrorist attack, according to a source familiar with the matter. The terrorist hypothesis “is not privileged”, it was commented.
The prosecution has opened an investigation for attempted murder entrusted to the criminal brigade of the Paris judicial police.
Hospitalized assailant
For some reason that has not yet been determined, the man injured several people with a bladed weapon. The police officers subdued him by using their weapon several times, the same source added.
In total, six people were injured, five slightly and one seriously, according to the Paris prosecutor’s office. A policeman from the PAF (border police) was slightly injured during his intervention.
The attacker, whose vital prognosis is engaged, was taken care of on the spot by the emergency services, before being hospitalized, according to the prosecution.
“Courageous and effective reaction”
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin reacted immediately on Twitter, writing: “Thank you to the police for their courageous and effective reaction”. He arrived on site at 9:00 a.m. surrounded by a substantial security device to “thank the police”.
The Minister specified that the police officers who intervened were in civilian clothes and were not on duty. They were going home and used their service weapon, as they are authorized to do.
ats/gma