French law enforcement authorities believe that Islamist extremism was the main driving force in the Paris attack that resulted in one dead and two others being injured.
On Sunday, German and French officials expressed shock after the incident that resulted in the death of a German tourist. The incident occurred on Saturday night at the Quai de Grenelle, located on the River Seine banks near the Eiffel Tower.
Horrific Paris Attack
In a statement, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said that the horrific attack was an "abominable crime." On the other hand, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that her thoughts were with the family and friends of the "young German" who was killed in the attack.
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Baerbock wrote that the deceased "had almost his whole life ahead of him." She added that hate and terror do not have a place in Europe. As per DW News, French President Emmanuel Macron also stated on Saturday evening.
He said that his condolences went out to the family and loved ones of the German victim of the Paris attack. He also said that his thoughts were with the people who were injured and were being treated.
On the day of the crime, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin spoke to reporters and said that the attacker first assaulted a German tourist couple while armed with a knife. The official added that the attacker then crossed the Bir-Hakeim bridge over the Seine before police arrived on the scene.
Darmanin noted that the suspect had tried to attack two more people using a hammer while being pursued by police. He injured one and caused the other one to suffer symptoms of shock. The French official said that after being arrested, the suspect said he could no longer bear Muslims dying in Afghanistan as well as in the Palestinian Territories.
Potential Islamist Extremism
The attacker was heard shouting "Allahu Akbar," which translates to God is Great, during the attack. Prosecutors handling the case later added that three people who were close to the assailant were being held in custody on Sunday afternoon, according to The Local.
The suspect was later identified as 26-year-old Frenchman Armand Rajabpour-Miyandoab, born to Iranian parents in the Paris suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine. Security forces knew of the individual and he was imprisoned in 2016 for four years after a failed terror attack plot. It was a knife attack in the Paris business district of La Defense.
After being released from jail, Rajabpour-Miyandoab was put on a terror watchlist because of his radical Islamist views. Darmanin added that the suspect also had mental health issues as he was diagnosed with psychosis but had stopped treatment in the summer of 2022.
During a news conference in Paris, France's top anti-terrorism prosecutor, Jean-Francois Ricard said that the suspect had shown "persistent radicalization." He added that the attacker had been in contact online with jihadists who are responsible for terrorist attacks in the country, said the New York Times.
