French prosecutors have initiated a terrorism-related investigation after a man, known for radical views and mental health issues, stabbed a tourist to death and injured two others in central Paris. The assailant, Armand Rajabpour-Miyandoab, a French national born in 1997 to Iranian parents, was apprehended following the attack near the Eiffel Tower on Saturday evening.
Rajabpour-Miyandoab, identified as having extremist tendencies, invoked “Allahu Akbar” during the assault. He expressed grievances related to Muslim deaths in Afghanistan and Palestine, accusing France of complicity in Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The attack resulted in the death of a 23-year-old German-Filipino citizen, while a 66-year-old British citizen and a 60-year-old French national sustained injuries. Authorities revealed that the attacker had previously been sentenced in 2016 for planning another attack in the La Defense business district, which he did not carry out.
President Emmanuel Macron extended condolences to the victim’s family, emphasizing the incident as a “terrorist attack.” Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne affirmed the nation’s resolve against terrorism, and Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin commended the intervention of a taxi driver who prevented further harm.
The assailant, considered “unstable and easily influenced,” had posted a video claiming responsibility on social media, referencing current events, the government, and the alleged murder of innocent Muslims. Investigators will examine his medical history, emphasizing his mental health issues.
Despite being monitored, the assailant was not hospitalized but was expected to follow a course of treatment for his mental health problems. The wounded victims, though suffering psychological trauma, are reported to be in good health.
France, on high alert amid tensions related to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, faces renewed scrutiny over security, especially with the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
By AFP
