A crazed knifeman stabbed three women – including a pregnant victim – in a terrifying random attack on a busy Paris street this morning before being pinned down by passers-by and an off-duty police officer.
Shocking mobile phone footage circulating online captures the chaos near Porte de Clichy in north-west Paris around 11.30am, showing the long-haired, bearded suspect in light clothing sprinting through traffic with two kitchen knives before being wrestled to the ground.
In the clips, terrified pedestrians, including an elderly woman in a wheelchair, scatter as the attacker races past shops and advertising boards. Moments later he is seen lying on the pavement, blood apparently on his hand, while members of the public hold him down next to a patterned bag. Knives can be seen discarded nearby on a zebra crossing.
The three victims, aged 19, 24 and 36, were treated by paramedics at the scene before being rushed to hospital. Two remain in a serious condition, one stabbed in the lower back and another in the abdomen, though their lives are not believed to be in danger. One of the women is pregnant.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed the 31-year-old suspect was detained by a heroic off-duty officer from the Paris police prefecture who witnessed the horror. “I pay tribute to him, it was a courageous act,” the minister said.
As the man was restrained, he reportedly shouted variations of “It’s Allah who made me do it” and “Allah sent me to kill women,” according to French media reports including Le Parisien and Le Figaro. Officials described his statements as “incoherent.”
Nuñez urged caution over the motive, saying police could not immediately verify the attacker’s identity and that the terrorist angle was not being prioritised. Sources close to the investigation suggested the suspect may have psychiatric issues.
A heavy police presence remains in the area, with nearby metro and tram stations closed as officers cordon off the scene between the brasserie Les Deux Coupoles and the Porte de Clichy tram stop.
The attack comes amid ongoing concern over knife crime on the streets of the French capital. Formal investigations have been launched by the Paris prosecutor’s office, with the national anti-terror unit monitoring the case.
