Attack in Front of Paris Police Headquarters: Suspect Under OQTF and Five Officers Injured

On Tuesday, February 5, a man attacked police officers on duty in front of the Paris police headquarters, slightly injuring five of them. The suspect, a 23-year-old born in Somalia, was under an Obligation to Leave French Territory (OQTF) since September 2023.

The Attack and Arrest

Around 1 p.m., three officers from the Brigade des Réseaux Franciliens (BRF) were confronted by an individual who ran towards them. The assailant attempted to seize one of their weapons before punching a chief brigadier in the face. Armed with a piece of broken mirror, he injured other officers—one on the hand, another on the finger. Three additional officers arrived as reinforcements, allowing for his arrest and handcuffing.

Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez stated that the individual repeatedly shouted “Allah Akhbar” during the attack.

A Suspect Known to Authorities

The man, who had no identification on him, claimed to be of Sudanese nationality, though initial investigations suggest he was born in Somalia. He had previously attempted to seize weapons from police officers and had undergone multiple stays in psychiatric hospitals. Though eligible for expulsion since September 2023, he was placed in administrative detention in January 2024 but was released in April by a judge of liberties and detention. An earlier expulsion attempt in October 2023 failed due to a lack of escort during a layover in Turkey.

Ongoing Investigation

The Paris prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation, which has been entrusted to the judicial police. The national anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office is closely monitoring the case but has not yet taken over the investigation, as the suspect’s motives remain unclear.