Paris attack close to Eiffel Tower leaves one dead and two injured

In central Paris, a man has been killed and two others have been injured following a violent incident involving a knife and hammer. France's Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin, confirmed that the attack occurred near the Quai de Grenelle, close to the famous Eiffel Tower.

The perpetrator, a 26-year-old French national previously known to security agencies, had been arrested.

According to Mr. Darmanin, the assailant targeted a couple of tourists, fatally stabbing a German national before being pursued by the police. Consequently, he proceeded to attack two additional people with a hammer until he was ultimately stopped, detained, and subdued with a Taser. The injured victims received medical attention from emergency services.

During the ordeal, the alleged attacker shouted "Allahu Akbar" (meaning "God is greatest" in Arabic) and later explained to law enforcement officers that his actions stemmed from distress regarding the loss of Muslim lives in Afghanistan and Palestine. It was revealed that the suspect had a prior criminal history, having received a four-year prison sentence in 2016 for plotting a separate attack. Consequently, he had been placed on the French security services' surveillance list. 

According to Mr Darmanin, the man was also known to have psychiatric disorders.

On Saturday night, a police operation was initiated near the Bir-Hakeim metro station, and authorities advised people to stay away from the area.

The investigation is now being taken over by the anti-terrorism prosecutor's office.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, President Emmanuel Macron expressed his sympathy for those affected by the "terrorist attack" and thanked the emergency services for their quick response.

He stated, The national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office has now taken control of the case and will be responsible for uncovering the truth so that justice can be served on behalf of the French people.