Paris Attack: Six Injured as Man with Knife Randomly Stabs People in Train Station

Paris Attack: Six Injured as Man with Knife Randomly Stabs People in Train Station
Authorities took swift action to "neutralize" the suspect, who attacked several people using a bladed weapon at the train station. Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA/AFP via Getty Images

At least six people sustained wounds in an incident at the Gare du Nord train station in Paris early Wednesday morning. The suspect was shot by police and taken to the hospital.

Minister of the Interior Gerald Darmanin revealed on social media that a person wounded numerous individuals this morning at the Gare du Nord train station. He further said that the assailant manufactured the weapon himself.

Authorities Say Investigation May Take Some Time

Darmanin expressed gratitude to the police for their swift and brave action during the Paris train station attack.

"He was quickly neutralized. Thank you to the police for their effective and courageous response," he tweeted, as per ABC News. The suspected Paris train station attacker is still alive and has been taken to the hospital, according to the police.

Darmanin, who held a press conference inside the station while surrounded by armed police officers, stated that all six of the wounded had been transferred to the hospital. It was reported that a police officer was hurt in the Paris train station attack.

The official said that the assault started at 6:42 a.m. local time and that police arrived within a minute. He added that the suspect, who had not made any pre-attack statements, had been shot three times by police.

The French Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office is "evaluating the facts" surrounding the Paris train station attack , but it has not yet decided whether or not to take it on.

The agency also noted that the assessment of the case may take longer due to the alleged attacker's injuries. Wednesday morning, not long after the Paris train station attack , Darmanin showed up at Gare du Nord.

A security agent for train company SNCF was among the police officers who opened fire, authorities said. The suspected attacker was hit by several bullets, CNN reported. After the incident, police surrounded the neighborhood and made it safe. Radio France International reported, citing SNCF, that train service was normal.

Train Operation Back to Normal

Residents of Paris had started to unwind following years of heightened anxiety due to terror strikes, but Wednesday's incident, which is not being probed as terror-related by French officials at this time, is the second in two months. Three Kurdish activists were shot and murdered in the north of Paris in December by a guy who at the time was under investigation by the Paris prosecutor's office for racial violence.

Police shot and killed a guy in February 2022 at the Gare du Nord station after he assaulted them with a knife, according to Reuters. A man who had attacked two people at the Marseille railway station in October 2017 was killed by troops.

The Gare du Nord railway station in Paris is among the largest and busiest in all of Europe. It's an endpoint on the route from London to Paris through the Channel Tunnel, and it serves the northern Paris suburbs.

According to national railroad firm SNCF, the Paris train station attack also severely disrupted rail travel at the station during the morning rush hour, NBC News reported. Wednesday at midday, the mood at Gare du Nord was peaceful, and travelers were optimistic that they would make their connections.

Tags
France, Paris, Train, Attack, Travel
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