Paris knife attack: what we know so far
Afghani national taken into custody following stabbings of seven people including two British tourists
Seven people were injured, four seriously, in seemingly random attacks by a knife-wielding man outside a Paris cinema on Sunday.
French authorities confirmed that they had arrested a suspect - believed to be an Afghan national - following the incident, in which two British tourists were hurt.
Deutsche Welle reports that the attacker “was carrying an iron bar and a knife when he began stabbing people” outside a cinema on the banks of the Bassin de la Villette, in the city’s 19th district, at around 11pm local time. Four of the victims are in a critical condition, the German newspaper adds.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The BBC reports that people playing a game of petanque - a French bowling game - near the cinema “threw balls at the attacker to try to stop him”.
“Around four or five balls hit him in the head, but they weren’t able to stop him,” according to eyewitness Youssef Najah.
Police said that the suspect was believed to have psychiatric and drug issues, The Daily Telegraph reports. A police investigation has been launched for attempted murder, according to a judicial source.
“At this stage, nothing leads us to believe these attacks are of a terrorist nature,” a police source told The Guardian.
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: “We are urgently investigating this incident and are in close contact with the French authorities.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why it's getting harder and harder to leave shopping centres
Under The Radar Expert says escalators are positioned to 'disorientate' shoppers and make them spend more
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
What's next for US interest rates?
The Explainer The Fed makes a sizable cut
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
'Beast' of a lawsuit: YouTube star and Amazon sued by contestants over abuse claims
The Explainer Can the breakout YouTube star weather a growing scandal engulfing his forthcoming reality TV competition?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
A brief history of third parties in the US
In Depth Though none of America's third parties have won a presidential election, they have nonetheless had a large impact on the country's politics
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Modern royal scandals from around the world
The Explainer From Spain to the UAE, royal families have often been besieged by negative events
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Zelenskyy says 31,000 troops dead in 2 years of war
Speed Read Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave a rare official military death toll
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published