Man armed with knives attacks police in France, shouting "Allahu Akbar"

In the centre of the French city of Toulouse, a man armed with several knives attacked a police patrol, injuring three officers. The news comes from La Dépêche du Midi, citing Toulouse's deputy mayor for security, Émilion Esnault.

Three police officers, including one woman, were patrolling Rue d'Austerlitz when they were attacked by a passer-by wielding knives. One officer tried to stop the attacker with a baton, while another attempted to use pepper spray, but the man continued his violent assault, wounding two of the officers — a man and a woman.

Nature of the injuries

According to the Le Parisien website, one of the officers suffered a knife wound in which "the tip of the blade grazed the carotid artery," along with cuts to his hands. His female colleague sustained cuts to her hands and, despite wearing a bulletproof vest, suffered another laceration to her body. The third officer escaped with minor cuts.

Despite their injuries, the officers managed to subdue and detain the attacker, according to broadcaster BFM TV. The man's nationality has not yet been established, and the motive behind the attack remains unknown. The only confirmed detail so far is that he was armed with several knives.

Investigation handed to Toulouse police

During the attack, the assailant reportedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" several times, though the case has not yet been taken up by France's anti-terrorism unit. "The investigation has been entrusted to the Toulouse prosecutor's office and police in order to establish the circumstances and motive behind the attack," French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez wrote on X.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz