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Police Shoot Attacker Outside Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris Police Shoot Attacker Outside Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris
(35 minutes later)
PARIS — An officer shot and wounded an assailant armed with a hammer and knives on the square outside Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on Tuesday afternoon, the local authorities said. PARIS — A police officer shot and wounded an assailant armed with a hammer and kitchen knives on the square outside Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on Tuesday afternoon, according to the authorities.
The cathedral, a Gothic landmark on the Île de la Cité in the Seine, was sealed off, and visitors and worshipers were told not to leave. The square in front of the cathedral was evacuated. The officer was wounded, and the assailant was hospitalized, the police said. The cathedral, a Gothic landmark on the Île de la Cité in the Seine, across from the headquarters of the Paris police prefecture, was sealed off, and about 900 visitors and worshipers were told not to leave until the situation was declared safe. The square was evacuated.
The Paris prosecutor’s office said it had opened a terrorism investigation and confirmed that the man had attacked the police officer with a hammer. He also had two knives with him, the office said. Gérard Collomb, the French interior minister, told reporters that the attack occurred around 4:20 p.m. when the man approached three police officers from behind and started hitting one of them with a hammer.
The officer was lightly wounded, the prosecutor’s office said, adding that it was still unclear if more than one officer had opened fire. “This is for Syria,” the assailant yelled. At least one officer opened fire, injuring the attacker, who was hospitalized.
On Twitter, the authorities announced that a police operation was underway and that people should avoid the area. The attacker was carrying an identity card describing him as an Algerian student, Mr. Collomb said, adding that investigators still needed to verify his identity, as well as his motivations. He appeared to be acting alone.
About 900 people were inside Notre-Dame when the shooting occurred, Karine Dalle, a spokeswoman for the Paris archdiocese, said in a text message, adding that those present were “sitting calmly” and had been told about the event. Two auxiliary bishops were also present, Ms. Dalle said, and reassured the crowd. She said that there had been no panic inside the cathedral. “One sees that we have gone from a very sophisticated terrorism to a terrorism where, in the end, any tool can be used to carry out attacks,” Mr. Collomb said.
A witness inside Notre-Dame reported on Twitter that visitors and worshipers were safe. Karine Dalle, a spokeswoman for the Paris archdiocese, said in a text message that the roughly 900 people inside the cathedral were notified about the violence and were “sitting calmly” until they were permitted to leave. Two auxiliary bishops were also present, Ms. Dalle said, and reassured the crowd.
There were no signs of panic. A witness inside Notre-Dame reported on Twitter that visitors and worshipers were safe.
Three major terrorist attacks in France, in January 2015, November 2015 and July 2016, claimed more than 230 lives, and the country remains under a state of emergency.Three major terrorist attacks in France, in January 2015, November 2015 and July 2016, claimed more than 230 lives, and the country remains under a state of emergency.
Landmarks across France, the world’s most-visited country, are considered especially vulnerable, despite constant policing.Landmarks across France, the world’s most-visited country, are considered especially vulnerable, despite constant policing.
In September, a group of women suspected of plotting a terrorist attack were arrested after a car filled with gas canisters was found near Notre-Dame.
In February, a 29-year-old man armed with two large knives and shouting “God is great” in Arabic lunged at a military patrol near an entrance to the Louvre in Paris and wounded a soldier. The assailant was shot by another soldier.In February, a 29-year-old man armed with two large knives and shouting “God is great” in Arabic lunged at a military patrol near an entrance to the Louvre in Paris and wounded a soldier. The assailant was shot by another soldier.
About 13 million people visit Notre-Dame every year, making it the most visited site in France. In contrast, 7.4 million people visited the Louvre in 2016. In March, a gunman was killed at Orly Airport, south of Paris, after attacking a soldier.
In April, days before the first round of France’s presidential elections, an attacker opened fire on a police van on the Champs-Élysées, killing one officer and wounding two others. Officers opened fire, killing that attacker.
The attack outside the cathedral came just days before crucial legislative elections, the first round of which will take place on Sunday.The attack outside the cathedral came just days before crucial legislative elections, the first round of which will take place on Sunday.
President Emmanuel Macron has announced he will create a special task force to better coordinate the fight against terrorism.President Emmanuel Macron has announced he will create a special task force to better coordinate the fight against terrorism.
Speaking to the newspaper Le Parisien this week, Gérard Collomb, the newly appointed interior minister, said that terrorist threats were “extremely high” in Europe and that security forces in France were more vigilant than ever. Speaking to the newspaper Le Parisien this week, Mr. Collomb, the interior minister, said that terrorist threats were “extremely high” in Europe and that security forces in France were more vigilant than ever.