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A man assaulted tourists near the Eiffel Tower in central Paris, resulting in the death of one person and injuries to two others.
According to statements made by interior minister Gerald Darmanin on Saturday evening, the police detained a 26-year-old French citizen by using a Taser stun gun.
According to Darmanin, the individual was flagged by the French security services and was also recognized for having mental health issues.
At approximately 7pm GMT, a man used a knife to attack a couple of tourists on the Quai de Grenelle, just a short distance from the Eiffel Tower. This resulted in the death of a German citizen.
Afterwards, he was pursued by law enforcement and proceeded to assault two additional individuals with a hammer prior to being taken into custody.
“The authorities have bravely apprehended an attacker who was assaulting pedestrians near Quai de Grenelle in Paris. One person has unfortunately passed away and another has been treated for injuries by the Paris fire department. Please steer clear of the vicinity,” stated the minister.
According to Agence France Presse, the investigation has been assigned to the anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office.
According to Dr. Patrick Pelloux’s statement on BFM TV, the perpetrator was swiftly stopped by law enforcement. Our attempts to rescue the man unfortunately proved unsuccessful, as he ultimately lost his life. The victims were identified as tourists.
The incident in central Paris on Saturday night happened less than eight months before the Olympic Games are set to be held in the French capital, which may bring up concerns about security for the international competition.
Paris is preparing for a groundbreaking opening event on the Seine river, expected to attract a crowd of up to 600,000 people.
Source: independent.co.uk