Two suspects have been arrested for a knife attack, possibly with a machete, in Paris. Two people were seriously injured. That happened in the 11th arrondissement, not far from the former offices of the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo.
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Two people were seriously injured in a knife attack that took place just before noon in the eleventh arrondissement of Paris. According to various sources, the two victims, a man and a woman who work for the news agency First Lines, a smoking break when they were suddenly attacked by a man with a cleaver. They are out of danger.
Nothing is yet known about the motive of the attack. Rue Nicolas-Appert, where the incident took place, is close to the former offices of the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo. Also, according to various French media, a suspicious package has been sent to the new building Charlie Hebdo. However, that would be harmless.
Two suspects were arrested, the prefecture confirms. The main suspect was arrested near Place de la Bastille. Moments later, a second suspect was also arrested. “The police are trying to verify his involvement,” reports a source The Parisian. According to several French-language newspapers, the main suspect is an 18-year-old man of Pakistani nationality.
The National Counter-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation into terrorism. That reports the producer of Paris Rémy Heitz. According to him, there are three indications to this: the proximity of the former Charlie Hebdooffices, the fact that the trial about the attacks on Charlie Hebdo is currently taking place, and finally, that there is no link whatsoever between victim and offender.
As a precaution, dozens of schools in the area went into lockdown. It concerns crèches to secondary schools in three arrondissements in the center of Paris. So thousands of children and students stayed inside. At least six stations of the Paris metro have been temporarily closed for safety reasons.
Prime Minister Jean Castex, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin and Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo arrived at the scene of the crime around 2.30 pm. “I am going to be involved in every possible way in the fight against terrorism,” Prime Minister Jean Castex told the press. “This attack took place in a symbolic place and at a time when the trial against suspects in the attack is taking place in 2015,” said Castex. “Now is the time for the government of the French Republic to recall its unshakable commitment to freedom of the press,” he added.
–Photo: AFP
Mayor Anne Hidalgo responded on Twitter. She condemns the attack. “My thoughts go out to the slachotffers, their families and colleagues,” she continues. She also thanks the police and emergency services that came to the scene en masse.
EU President Charles Michel also responded: ‘All my thoughts go out to the victims of this violent, low-profile act. There is no place for terror in Europe. I am in solidarity with the French people in this new ordeal. ‘
New stabbing attack in front of the former premises of #CharlieHebdo.
All my thoughts are with the victims of this cowardly act of violence.
Terror has no place on European territory.
Full solidarity with the French people in this new ordeal.
– Charles Michel (@eucopresident) September 25, 2020
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Possibly related to Charlie Hebdo
Terrorist group Al-Qaeda who launched the attack Charlie Hebdo had claimed, recently made another call to attack the satirical magazine. The reason for that was that Charlie Hebdo had re-published cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. Wednesday the editor-in-chief of the satirical magazine published another open letter about freedom of the press. The trial of the Charlie Hebdo attacks in January 2015 is still ongoing. Twelve people were killed in that attack. This afternoon the widows testify to the perpetrators.
–Photo: AFP
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