France: Paris Cops Kill Knife-Wielding Terrorist Under Arc de Triomphe

Suspect previously convicted in Belgium for attempted terrorist attack

Brahim B.

-7 Sur 7 (Be)

Today, French Gendarmes were attacked by a man identified as Brahim B. as they were lighting the flame at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The suspect was shot and killed by Gendarmes. While not noted in the below article, this same subject was convicted of terrorist acts in Belgium in 2012 when he attempted to stab cops with a knife. The below article from France Bleu is translated by Fousesquawk.

Paris: A man shot dead after threatening Gendarmes- National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office takes charge

A man is dead from his wounds after having threatened Gendarmes with a knife on Friday during a ceremony of relighting the flame under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, FranceInfo, France Inter, and ICI  have learned.

A man shot on Friday in Paris has died from his wounds, the National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office (Pnat) is announcing in a press release Friday evening. He attempted to attack Gendarmes with a knife under the Arc de Triomphe, several sources indicated to France Inter, FranceInfo, and ICI Provence. Sirpa (National Gendarme Communication Service) confirms that no Gendarme is injured. 

The assailant attempted to attack Gendarmes with a knife near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during the daily ceremony of lighting the flame. Sirpa states that the man attacked musicians of the Mobile Gendarmerie.

According to initial details, a Gendarme opened fire in the direction of the assailant. Wounded by gunfire, the man fell to the ground. According to a police source (speaking) to France Inter, the Gendarme fired 4 times. A response which, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez (speaking) to ICI Provence, was conducted "within the framework of the law and regulations".

PNAT states they have opened an investigation for "attempted murder of persons of public authority in relation to a terrorist enterprise" and for "participation in a criminal, terrorist association". 

"I want to congratulate the Gendarmes who immediately reacted," said Emmanuel Macron on Friday to journalists at the sidelines of the Munich Conference on Security. "Our internal security forces are mobilized, and they intervened this evening to stop this terrorist attack," he continued. "We are constantly vigilant." 

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The paragraph below, which is excerpted from the Dutch-language daily, De Morgen, is translated by Fousesquawk.

According to Le Parisen, he is 48-year-old Brahim B. The man was convicted in the past in Belgium after he stabbed two police officers on June 8, 2012. At that time, according to his own statement, he wanted to punish the country for its ban on wearing the burka. A few months ago, he was freed from prison, according to the French newspaper. The French intelligence service, DGSI, had previously warned that he would commit an attack.