Suspect in Paris Police Headquarters Attack Indicted

Incident Overview
On Tuesday afternoon, five officers from the Île-de-France Network Brigade sustained minor injuries during an attack in front of the Paris Police Headquarters. The assailant was swiftly subdued and arrested at the scene.

Charges and Legal Proceedings
The Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed on Monday, February 10, that the suspect has been formally indicted. He faces charges of “attempted murder of a public official” and has been placed in pre-trial detention.

Details of the Attack
According to the prosecutor, the assailant attempted to seize a police officer’s handgun. In the struggle that followed, he punched one officer in the face, resulting in minor injuries: one officer sustained a hand laceration, while another suffered a fractured finger. Witness accounts reported that the attacker shouted “Allahu Akbar” multiple times during the incident.

Suspect’s Background
The suspect, a 23-year-old Somali national, was already under an obligation to leave French territory (OQTF). Sources close to the investigation revealed that he had previously been arrested in 2023 for two separate incidents where he tried to grab weapons from law enforcement officers. In both cases, he was deemed criminally irresponsible and committed to psychiatric care.

Motive and Psychological Profile
During questioning, the suspect expressed a “determined desire to die” but cited religious prohibitions against suicide as the reason for his actions. Despite the severity of the attack, the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) has not taken over the case. The indictment was issued as part of a judicial investigation initiated by the Paris Prosecutor’s Office, indicating that terrorism-related charges are not currently being pursued.