A pregnant woman was among three people injured in a terrifying knife attack in Paris after a man allegedly shouted, “Allah sent me to kill women,” before targeting victims in broad daylight.
The incident took place at about 9.30am near Porte de Clichy in Paris.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told reporters the man attacked the three women, who were aged 19, 24 and 36, severely wounding two of them.
According to a witness speaking to Le Figaro, one of the victims was pregnant.
Two of the victims who were taken to hospital remain in critical condition. Local media reports one woman was hit in the lower back and the other in the abdomen.
The suspect, a 31-year-old man believed to have mental health issues, was arrested at the scene following a police operation. He was armed with two knives, local media reports.
Video footage on social platform X showed a man with long black hair, wearing a cream tracksuit and wielding one big knife in each hand stabbing a young woman.
The video then showed him on the floor and surrounded by a group of people who had stopped him.
Speaking to Le Parisien, a source close to the investigation said: ‘The guy said, “Allah sent me to kill women.”‘
The Porte de Clichy tram station has been closed since approximately 1pm, on the orders of the Paris police, local media reports.
Taking to X, Paris mayor Emmanuel Gregoire wrote: ‘I extend all my thoughts to the victims of this act of extreme violence.
‘The investigation must shed light on the motivations of the perpetrator. Deep gratitude to the off-duty police officer who subdued the assailant.’