On July 18, 2024, a French police officer was injured in a knife attack near the Champs-Élysées in Paris, just eight days before the Olympic Games opening ceremony. The incident occurred when police responded to a call from security guards at a Louis Vuitton store regarding a disturbance. The attacker, identified as a 27-year-old foreigner with no known terrorist connections, fled the scene with a knife but then turned and stabbed an officer in the ear.Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin reported that the assailant was ‘immediately neutralized’ by other police officers. One officer shot the attacker in the stomach, leaving him in critical condition. The injured police officer, belonging to the Direction of Public Order and Circulation (DOPC), was taken to the hospital, but his life is not in danger.This attack comes just days after another incident where a man stabbed a French soldier outside the Gare de l’Est train station. The proximity to the Olympic Games, set to begin on July 26, has intensified concerns about security in the French capital. In response, authorities have significantly increased police and military presence throughout Paris, with up to 45,000 officers expected to be deployed during the Games.Prefect of Police Laurent Nuñez stated that the attacker had ‘no terrorist motivation, nor a link to the Olympics’. However, the incident has occurred as Paris implements extensive security measures, including a perimeter around the Seine River near the site of the Olympic opening ceremony. The entire center of Paris near the river is now cordoned off with restricted access and numerous agents monitoring busy areas.
Key points
- A French police officer was injured in a knife attack near the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
- The attack occurred just eight days before the Olympic Games opening ceremony, raising security concerns.
- Authorities have increased police and military presence in Paris, with up to 45,000 officers expected during the Games.
- The attacker, a 27-year-old foreigner, was shot and critically wounded by police.
Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in reports about the attacker’s age, with some sources stating 27 years old and others reporting 24 years old.
👾While most sources state the officer was injured in the ear, one source mentions an injury to the neck area.
