French Authorities Investigate Suspected “Terrorist Plot” in Paris Stabbing; Victim Identified as German-Filipino Citizen Armand Rajabpour-Miyandoab

Accident – Death – Obituary News :

PARIS: Late on Saturday night, a man known to French authorities for his involvement in radical Islamism and struggling with mental health issues carried out a brutal attack, stabbing a tourist to death and injuring two other individuals in central Paris. The incident took place near the iconic Eiffel Tower at around 9 pm (2000 GMT), during a bustling weekend. The country was already on high alert due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Following the attack, prosecutors specializing in terrorist incidents initiated an investigation into the assailant, identified as Armand Rajabpour-Miyandoab. Born in 1997 to Iranian parents, Rajabpour-Miyandoab is a French national who was swiftly apprehended after the knife and hammer assault. The judicial source revealed that the attacker is suspected of murder in relation to the deceased victim, a 23-year-old German-Filipino citizen. Additionally, he will face charges of attempted murder for the injuries inflicted upon a 66-year-old British citizen and a 60-year-old French national, with the investigation focusing on a potential “terrorist plot”.

The 23-year-old attacker, who had a history of mental illness and was known to authorities, shouted “Allahu Akbar” (Arabic for “God is greatest”) during the assault, according to Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, who was present at the scene near the Bir Hakeim bridge over the River Seine. Rajabpour-Miyandoab, a resident of the Essonne region south of Paris, expressed his outrage over the deaths of Muslims in Afghanistan and Palestine and accused France of complicity in Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip.

The incident prompted a response from high-ranking officials in France. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne expressed the nation’s determination not to succumb to terrorism, stating on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), “We will not give in to terrorism.” President Emmanuel Macron conveyed his condolences to the family of the victim, referring to the attack as a “terrorist act.”

Law enforcement and security sources confirmed that the attacker had shared a video claiming responsibility for the assault on social media, discussing “current events, the government, [and] the murder of innocent Muslims.” Investigators will closely examine the perpetrator’s medical history, with a security source describing him as “very unstable and easily influenced.” The police will also investigate whether Rajabpour-Miyandoab received appropriate medical monitoring, as he had been under supervision for some time.

Darmanin revealed that the assailant had previously been sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 for planning another attack in the La Defense business district of Paris, which he ultimately failed to carry out. During Saturday’s incident, a taxi driver who witnessed the attack intervened, saving the wife of the slain tourist. The attacker proceeded to cross the bridge, attacking others and injuring one individual with a hammer. He was eventually subdued by pursuing police officers using a taser before being arrested.

In response to the swift arrest of the suspected attacker, President Macron expressed gratitude to the security forces and emphasized the importance of delivering justice “in the name of the French people.”

Joseph S., a 37-year-old supermarket manager who preferred not to disclose his last name, witnessed the attack while sitting in a nearby bar. He recounted hearing screams and people pleading for help as they fled the scene. According to Joseph, a man armed with a hammer assaulted an individual who had fallen down. Within five to ten minutes, the police arrived at the scene.

France has experienced several attacks by Islamist extremists, including the devastating suicide and gun attacks in Paris in November 2015, claimed by the Islamic State group, which resulted in the deaths of 130 people. Although there has been a relative lull in recent years, officials have continually warned about the ongoing threat. The tensions within France, home to significant Jewish and Muslim populations, have intensified due to the recent conflict between Hamas and Israel.

Given that Paris is preparing to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, security in the city is under heightened scrutiny. The incident in October, where a young radicalized Islamist from Russia’s Caucasus region killed teacher Dominique Bernard in the northern French town of Arras, further underscores the need for vigilance and preventive measures.

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