Tourist dead and ‘British man hit on head with hammer’ in Paris attack

A tourist was killed during a hammer and knife attack in Paris tonight and at least two others badly were injured, including a British man who was stabbed in front of his young child.

The victims were set upon by a man near the Eiffel Tower, who has been arrested and told police he was upset about the situation in Gaza, French interior minister Gérald Darmanin said.

Police said the man who was killed is a tourist with duel German and Filipino nationality, who was slashed in the back and shoulder by a man screaming ‘Allahu Akbar’ – which means ‘God is greater’ in Arabic.

The British man, who has not been identified, was out walking with his wife and child when he attacked from behind with a hammer, according to local press who quoted a police source.

The source said: “A hammer was used to hit the man over the head.”

The British man was rushed to hospital, where his condition was later described as “stable”.

The arrested man, who also has not been named, was “immobilised” by officers with an electric stun gun as he ran up the Avenue du Parc de Passy near the iconic monument, the source said.

The attacks happened on the Grenelle quay, in the 15th arrondissement of the French capital, at around 10pm.

Mr Darmanin said: “The police have just courageously arrested an assailant who attacked passers-by in Paris, around the Quai de Grenelle.

“One deceased person and one injured person treated by the Paris Fire Brigade. Please avoid the sector.”

The attacker was arrested soon afterward the stabbings, and is currently in custody and facing a possible murder charge.

Officers said there was no early indication as to the motive of the stabbing, but it follows a series of bomb, gun and knife attacks carried out by Islamic State and al-Qaeda operatives in France, dating back to early 2015 – many of whom have shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ while carrying out their crimes.

The deadliest single terrorist attack ever in the country came in November 2015 when 130 people were killed in Paris.

Suicide bombers pledging allegiance to ISIS targeted the Stade de France, cafes, restaurants and the Bataclan music venue, where 90 died.

Earlier in the year, two Paris-born gunmen linked to Al-Qaeda broke into the offices of the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine, leaving 17 people dead inside and three outside.

In July 2016, 86 people were called and more than 400 injured when a 19 tonne truck was deliberately driven into crowds on the seafront promenade at Nice, which is just 20 miles from Cannes.

The terrorist turned out to be a Tunisian immigrant who was shot dead by police.

During the same month, two Isis terrorists murdered an 86-year-old Catholic priest during a church service in Normandy.

And in October 2020, three people were stabbed to death by a Tunisian immigrant in the Notre Dame basilica in Nice.

There have also been frequent knife attacks on the forces of law and order, leading to the deaths of serving police.