Paris knife attack shouts attacker yells 'Allahu Akbar'

[Anthea]

Two dead in Paris knife attack

One person has been killed and five wounded in a knife attack in Paris, French police say.

They say the attacker - who has not been identified - was shot dead by police. Two of the injured are in a serious condition.

The incident happened in the Opera district of central Paris.

Witnesses spoke of panic, as people tried to hide in restaurants and cafes from the streets. The motive for the attack was not immediately known.

The witnesses say police officers first tried to taser the attacker - but then fired two shots after this failed to stop the assailant, France24 reports.

French police warned the public not to spread rumours.

"Please only share information coming from a trusted source," the police tweeted.

France has been on high alert following a series of attacks over the past three years. Some have been claimed or inspired by so-called Islamic State (ISIS).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-44096595

Because this is in France we assume this attack is ISIS related

[Anthea]

Attacker yells 'Allahu Akbar,' stabs five in Paris before police take him down

The person who stabbed five people in Paris on Saturday night, killing one, yelled the Arabic phrase "Allahu Akbar," meaning "God is great," during the attack, city prosecutor François Molins told reporters at the scene.

Four people were wounded during the Saturday night knife attack in the touristy 2nd arrondissement, or district, of Paris.
Two of the victims were gravely wounded and two others were lightly injured, police said.

The attacker, who French President Emmanuel Macron called a terrorist, is dead, according to police.
The media wing of ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement published online.

The Amaq News Agency said "the person who executed the stabbing in Paris is a soldier of the Islamic State." The statement also said the assailant acted in response to calls to attack anti-ISIS coalition countries.

ISIS did not provide proof to substantiate the claim and no authorities or security sources have yet verified the authenticity of the ISIS claim.

Macron said he salutes the courage of the police who "neutralized the terrorist" in the Paris knife attack, according to a tweet from his official account Saturday. He says his thoughts are with the victims.

French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb praised the cool and quick response by French police who "neutralized" the assailant.
"My first thoughts are for the victims in this odious attack," added Collomb, who made the comments via Twitter.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo saluted the courage and professionalism of police, writing on Twitter that they have "again saved lives" and "have all my gratitude."

She also thanked the emergency services who arrived to the attack scene quickly and took charge of the wounded.
The location of the attack is about 10 minutes away by foot from the Paris opera house, known as Palais Garnier.

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/05/12/euro ... index.html