Terror probe as French police official fatally stabbed inside station

23 April 2021, 18:14

Police near the scene of a stabbing at a police station in Rambouillet, south-west of Paris
Police near the scene of a stabbing at a police station in Rambouillet, south-west of Paris. Picture: PA

French media reports identified the attacker as a 37-year-old Tunisia-born French resident with no criminal record or record of radicalisation.

French prosecutors have opened a terrorism investigation into the fatal stabbing of a French police official inside her police station near the historic Rambouillet chateau outside Paris.

Police shot and killed the attacker at the scene, authorities said.

Anti-terrorism prosecutor Jean-Francois Ricard told reporters that his office took over the probe because the attacker had staked out the station, because of statements he made during the attack, and because he targeted a police official.

Mr Ricard did not provide details on the attacker’s identity or motive.

French media reports identified him as a 37-year-old French resident with no criminal record or record of radicalisation.

A French judicial official said the suspect was born in Tunisia and that witnesses heard him say “Allahu akbar”, Arabic for God is great, during the attack.

French Prime Minister Jean Castex rushed to the scene with other officials and pledged the government’s “determination to fight terrorism in all its forms”.

Islamic extremists and others have carried out multiple terror attacks in France in recent years, including several targeting police.

The police officer killed on Friday was a 49-year-old administrative employee who worked for the national police service, a national police spokesperson told the Associated Press.

The national anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office opened an investigation into murder of a person of public authority in relation with a terrorist group.

Police near the scene of a stabbing at a police station in Rambouillet, south-west of Paris
Police near the scene of the incident (Clement Lanot via AP)

“Police are symbols of the republic. They are France,” Valerie Pecresse, president of the Paris region, told reporters at the scene, adding that “the face of France” was targeted.

The attack took place south-west of Paris just inside the police station in a quiet residential area of the town of Rambouillet, about 750 metres from a former royal estate that is sometimes used for international peace negotiations.

Police cordons ringed the area after the stabbing.

The attack comes as President Emmanuel Macron’s government is toughening its security policies amid voter concerns about crime and complaints from police that they face increasing danger.

The shift comes as France prepares for regional elections in June in which security is a big issue, and for a presidential election next year in which Mr Macron’s main challenger could be far-right leader Marine Le Pen, if he seeks a second term.

By Press Association

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

Russia bombed Ukrainian infrastructure overnight

Russia launches 'massive attack' on Ukraine's power supplies, with 'energy security under growing threat'

South Africa Bus Crash

Girl, 8, the sole survivor as 45 die in bus crash off South Africa bridge

A spokesman has denied reports the sausage dog could be banned.

The wurst news is over: Germany denies claims of sausage dog ban

Israel Palestinians Britain Aid

UN top court orders Israel to open more land crossings into Gaza

Greece Confidence Vote

Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster

Israel Palestinians UN Security Council

Russia ‘abolishes’ monitoring of sanctions on North Korea with UN veto

Firefighters at the scene of a bus crash in Limpopo

Bus falls from bridge in South Africa and erupts into flames, killing at least 45 and leaving child, 8, as lone survivor

Music-Green Day UN

Green Day to headline UN-backed global climate concert

Sam Bankman-Fried

FTX founder Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison for crypto fraud

France Valentino

Former Gucci designer Alessandro Michele named Valentino creative director

Russia Shooting

Russia arrests another suspect in concert hall attack that killed 143

American Easter egg

White House’s annual Easter egg roll to be attended by 40,000 people

Barbers in Paris

Proposal to ban discrimination over a person’s hair passes first legal hurdle

Mahmoud Abbas

Palestinian Authority names new government following pressure to reform

Arvind Kejriwal

Opposition leader Kejriwal locked up for further four days, court rules

Resident clears rubble from home

Russia wears down Ukrainian defences with missile and drone attacks