A manhunt ensued following a knife-wielding man’s reported stabbing of three women on a bustling metro route in Paris. The assailant allegedly targeted the victims at Arts-et-Métiers, République, and Opéra stations on Friday afternoon between 4:15 pm and 4:45 pm, as confirmed by a police source to Le Parisien. The assaults occurred on Line 3, which connects Bagnolet in Seine-Saint-Denis and Levallois-Perret in Hauts-de-Seine.
Upon the incidents, emergency responders promptly arrived at the scenes to provide assistance to the three women who sustained minor injuries, including cuts to their backs and thighs, as indicated by law enforcement. A witness at République station recounted, “The young woman suffered a thigh injury, with a significant amount of blood and a deep cut.”
The suspect reportedly evaded capture on Line 8 but was later apprehended at his residence in Sarcelles, Val-d’Oise, according to Le Parisien. Authorities located him through the geolocation data from his mobile phone, swiftly identifying him post the attacks.
The Paris prosecutor’s office stated, “With the aid of surveillance footage, the regional transport security services (SRT) have identified an individual born in 2000, with a history of police involvement in various offenses, including property damage, as part of an investigation for attempted murder and aggravated assault with a weapon.”
A police source informed Le Parisien that terrorism has been ruled out in the case, indicating that the assaults were likely perpetrated by an individual grappling with mental health challenges. Operations at Opéra and République stations returned to normalcy two hours after the incidents, with Line 3 resuming its regular service.