Man with Radical Islamist Background Stabs Tourist to Death in Paris
PARIS: A man with a history of radical Islamism and mental health issues stabbed a tourist to death and injured two others in central Paris on Saturday night. The attacker, identified as Armand Rajabpour-Miyandoab, a 24-year-old French national of Iranian descent, was quickly apprehended, and prosecutors have opened an investigation into a suspected “terrorist plot.”
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The incident occurred near the Eiffel Tower at around 9pm local time, during a busy weekend. The attack took place as tensions continue to rise in France due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The 23-year-old victim, a German-Filipino citizen, was killed, while a 66-year-old British citizen and a 60-year-old French national were wounded. The suspect, who is known to authorities and receiving treatment for mental illness, shouted “Allahu Akbar” (Arabic for “God is greatest”) during the attack.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin stated that the suspect expressed his anger over Muslim deaths in Afghanistan and Palestine and accused France of being complicit in Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip. The attacker had previously been sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 for planning another attack in the La Defense business district, which he did not carry out.
French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne vowed not to give in to terrorism, while President Emmanuel Macron sent his condolences to the victim’s family. Macron also expressed gratitude to the security forces for their swift arrest of the suspect and called for justice to be served.
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The attack, which was captured in a video posted on social media by the attacker, has raised questions about the suspect’s mental state and whether he was receiving proper medical monitoring. Police and security sources described him as “very unstable and easily influenced.”
France has experienced several terrorist attacks by Islamist extremists in recent years, including the 2015 Paris attacks claimed by the Islamic State group. While the country has seen a relative lull in such incidents, officials have consistently warned of the ongoing threat.
The incident has further heightened security concerns in Paris, as the city prepares to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
