French police fatally shot an assailant armed with a knife who targeted an officer at the Arc de Triomphe during a ceremony. The suspect, identified as Brahim Bahrir with alleged ISIS links, assaulted the officer with a blade, resulting in serious injuries. Subsequently, the police were authorized to use lethal force, leading to the attacker being shot and hospitalized in critical condition. Fortunately, there were no injuries to bystanders or other police personnel during the incident.
The assailant, who was already known to law enforcement, carried out the attack during the Rekindling of the Flame ceremony, a weekly event honoring the Unknown Soldier and French war victims at the historic monument.
Reportedly, the man was shot four times in the torso and leg on the renowned Champs-Élysées avenue, prompting the establishment of a security cordon. Despite being rushed to the hospital, he succumbed to his injuries an hour after admission.
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the terrorist attack at the Arc de Triomphe, praising the bravery of the gendarmes and Sentinelle soldiers for swiftly responding to the incident and preventing further harm. He expressed solidarity with the injured gendarme and remembered the presence of schoolchildren and Flame Committee members during the attack.
Images capturing the police intervention and closure of Charles de Gaulle-Étoile and nearby Metro stations for security measures circulated on social media platforms. The National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor’s Office initiated a preliminary investigation into the events of February 13, 2026, in Paris, with a magistrate en route to the scene for further inquiries.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez highlighted that the assailant attempted to target gendarmes with a knife, including those from the gendarmerie band preparing for the ceremony. Fortunately, no additional injuries were reported, and an investigation is currently in progress.
