Paris Gare du Nord stabbing: Knifeman wounds several passengers

Knifeman wounds several passengers in Gare du Nord rampage in Paris before he is shot and ‘neutralised’ by police

  • The frenzy started inside the station at around 6.40am local time today
  • The attacker wounded several passengers and a border police officer
  • Police opened fire on the knifeman and wounded him before arresting him 

A knifeman has attacked and wounded six passengers at the Gare du Nord station in Paris.

The ‘indiscriminate’ frenzy, which was carried out with a homemade blade, started at 6.40am local time inside Europe’s busiest railway station.

An off-duty police officer who was returning home at the end of his shift shot the attacker and ‘neutralised’ him.

The suspect was taken to hospital in a critical condition after being shot three times, while six people are believed to have been injured in the rampage, including a border police officer. 

A knifeman has attacked and wounded several passengers at the Gare du Nord station in Paris. Pictured: police at the scene

A knifeman has attacked and wounded several passengers at the Gare du Nord station in Paris. Pictured: police at the scene

One of those injured is ‘more serious’ than the others but is not ‘in absolute emergency’, officials said. 

The attacker had no identity documents on him at the time and his motive has not been established. 

The weapon is believed to be a kind of awl, altered with duct tape. 

Jaffar, who was passing through the transport hub at the time, told Le Parisien: ‘It was 6.45am. I had just crossed the hall and was heading for my train to Calais. It happened behind me. I didn’t immediately pay attention to the cries, it was quite confusing.

‘Controllers shouted at travellers to get on the trains and then the police intervened and fired several times.’ 

Minister of the Interior, Gerald Darmanin, said this morning: ‘An individual has injured several people this morning in Gare du Nord.

French police secure the area after a man with a knife wounded several people at the Gare du Nord train station in Paris

French police secure the area after a man with a knife wounded several people at the Gare du Nord train station in Paris

‘He was quickly neutralised. Thanks to security forces for their effective and courageous reaction.’ 

The incident has cased major delays to trains at the station in the early morning rush, according to the live departure board of operator SNCF. 

Rail network TER Hauts-de-France said in a statement: ‘Traffic is disrupted on departure and arrival from Paris Nord. 

‘The police have opened fire against a threatening person who is said to have injured customers in Gare du Nord.

‘The person was brought under control, the emergency services intervened and the person evacuated. 

‘A security perimeter has been established but the station continues to operate normally.’

France remains on a state of heightened security alert after a spate of deadly attacks since 2015. 

source: dailymail.co.uk