A gendarme was attacked with a knife in France on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, prompting a response that is drawing scrutiny online. The incident occurred amid a series of alerts and security concerns across the country, including a bomb threat that led to the evacuation of the national headquarters of La France Insoumise (LFI) in Paris.
Details surrounding the knife attack remain limited. According to a Facebook post from 20 Minutes, the gendarme “réplique” – responded – after being assaulted. The post included comments expressing concern over what some users perceived as attempts to downplay the severity of the attack. Loic Vachod’s comment, flagged as “propos non conforme” (inappropriate comments), was also noted in the Facebook exchange.
The incident with the gendarme is one of several alerts reported by 20 Minutes on Wednesday. A man is reported missing in Maine-et-Loire after his canoe capsized. The LFI headquarters evacuation followed a “menace à la bombe” (bomb threat).
Political tensions are also evident in online discussions reported by 20 Minutes. Comments on a Facebook post regarding Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella suggest expectations of increased support for the Rassemblement National. One user expressed a sentiment reflecting dissatisfaction with the current political landscape.
Elsewhere, preparations are underway for the Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics, with Romain Allemand competing in snowboard slopestyle. The Russian team has been authorized to participate in the Paralympic Games under its own flag, a decision that has drawn criticism from Ukraine.
Authorities are also responding to severe weather conditions. A storm, Pedro, has prompted red alerts in four French departments.
