French authorities so far are not excluding terrorism as the motive behind last Thursday’s attack on the Paris police headquarters by a knife wielding man.
A 45-year-old IT worker went on a knife rampage at the Paris police headquarters Thursday, killing four people, including three police officers, before he was shot dead.
The Paris prosecutor said so far a murder investigation had been launched.
Four people, including three police officers and an administrative worker, were killed in a knife attack at the Paris police headquarters.
The attacker, who has not been identified, was described as a model employee and showed no signs of behavioural problems. This evening reports are being carried by two reputable French news outlets that the man was a recent convert to Islam.
Police have searched his home in the north of the city and taken his wife into custody, although the Paris prosecutor’s office said she has not been charged.
There were tensions between the knife-man and his supervisor, according to police union official Christophe Crepin.
“I do not think this is a terrorist act,” Crepin, who knew the attacker, told Franceinfo Radio.
Police union leader Jean-Marc Bailleul described it as a criminal act, telling BFMTV: “It was a moment of madness.”
The attack follows a rare nationwide police strike on Wednesday, which saw thousands of officers demonstrating in Paris over working hours, shortages in resources and controversial pension reforms.
The attack occurred inside the Paris police headquarters in the fourth arrondissement (district) in the heart of the French capital, across the street from the Notre-Dame Cathedral, which was devastated by a fire earlier this year.
President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and Interior Minister Christophe Castaner have all visited the site.
