PARIS, France: French police on Friday arrested a 25-year-old man suspected of stabbing three women at separate locations on Paris’s Line 3 metro, as end-of-year celebrations were underway, prosecutors said.
The attacks occurred between 4:15 pm and 4:45 pm at the République, Arts et Métiers, and Opéra stations, all in central Paris, according to the RATP transit authority. According to AFP, one of its journalists at République station witnessed emergency responders treating a woman with a leg injury who appeared to be in shock.
Police said two of the victims were treated at the scene and taken to hospital, while a third woman later sought medical care independently. None of the victims were reported to be in critical condition.
Using surveillance camera footage and mobile phone geolocation, investigators tracked the suspect to the Val-d’Oise region north of Paris, where he was arrested at 6:55 pm—less than three hours after the first attack.
Transport police have opened an investigation into attempted homicide and assault with a weapon. Security on Line 3 was reinforced following the incident.
The Interior Ministry said the suspect is a Malian national who had previously been convicted of aggravated theft and sexual assault and was ordered to leave France after his release from prison in July. He had been held in administrative detention but was released after 90 days due to the absence of required consular travel documents for deportation.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez expressed regret that the deportation could not be carried out and reiterated the government’s commitment to prioritizing the removal of undocumented foreigners convicted of public order offences.
Paris police chief Patrice Faure praised investigators for their rapid response, while authorities reiterated calls for “maximum vigilance,” particularly on public transport, amid heightened security concerns during the festive season.
