Knife attack in Paris: suspect's custody lifted for psychiatric reasons

The man arrested after Monday's knife attack at Porte de Clichy in Paris's 17th arrondissement has been released from police custody due to his mental health condition. The Paris prosecutor's office stated that following a psychiatric evaluation, the suspect was deemed unfit for police custody. He has been transferred to the psychiatric ward of the Paris police headquarters for specialized care.

The attack left three victims, all women. Two of them were seriously injured, while the third, eight months pregnant, was hospitalized, though her life was not in danger. The suspect was apprehended shortly after the incident thanks to the intervention of an off-duty police officer, while he was making incoherent statements.

A man already receiving psychiatric treatment

The investigation has established that the suspect was already receiving psychiatric treatment. However, he was previously unknown to both the police and the judicial authorities, according to the prosecutor's office. The precise circumstances of the attack and the perpetrator's motives are still under investigation.

The condition of the two most seriously injured victims is now considered stable. The investigation continues under the authority of the Paris prosecutor's office to determine the exact circumstances of the attack and to assess the legal proceedings that may follow, given the suspect's psychiatric condition.