Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Violent protests after three shot dead in attack in central Paris

Violent protests after three shot dead in attack in central Paris

A gunman ‘just released from prison following sabre attack on refugees’ opened fire in Kurdish cultural centre

Violent protests broke out in Paris on Friday evening after three people were shot dead and another three injured in a suspected racist attack.

A gunman opened fire as he targeted a Kurdish cultural centre and a restaurant and hairdresser near the Gare du Nord Eurostar hub.

The gunman was described by an investigating source as a “far-Right racist fanatic” who had just been released from prison where he was awaiting trial for attacking two Sudanese refugees with a sabre.

The suspect, a 69-year-old man who was also injured following the incident, was arrested following the shooting,

All three of those who died were Kurdish, a lawyer for the Kurdish cultural centre said. Three others were wounded, with one in a critical condition, following the attack which occurred at 11am GMT (12pm local time).

The shooting took place inside the Kurdish cultural centre in the 10th arrondissement of the French capital.

French president Emmanuel Macron condemned the attack, saying: “The Kurds of France have been the target of a heinous attack in the heart of Paris. Our thoughts are with the victims, the people who are struggling to live, their families and loved ones.”


Large crowds amassed following the shootings with ugly scenes unfolding. Riot police fired teargas to drive back the angry crowd as projectiles were thrown at officers, rubbish bins and restaurant tables overturned and cars damaged.

“Large crowds of Kurds gathered in the hours after the shooting, and turned their anger on the police,’ said an investigating source.

“When Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin arrived at the scene, hundreds of protesters starting throwing whatever they could find at officers, while lighting fires.

“The riot police responded with baton charges and tear gas, making for very ugly scenes.”

Bystanders gather behind the crime scene tape where a shooting took place in Paris


Earlier the gunman, an ex-railway driver identified as William M, deliberately targeted an immigrant neighbourhood, said an investigating source.

“He was armed with a gun and deliberately targeted an area full of immigrants, including recent arrivals sleeping rough,’ said the source.

“He threatened people in a hairdresser, a restaurant, and people close to the Ahmet-Kaya Kurdish cultural centre. He seemed intent on killing as many people as he could.”

Some seven shots were heard close to noon, as people fled in panic from the area.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin (C) shakes hands with bystander in front of the salon where shots were fire


“It’s total panic, we’ve locked ourselves in,” one shopkeeper told AFP news agency.

“He started shooting people around the 10th arrondissement and was himself wounded during a confrontation with the police, before they arrested him,” said the investigating source. “The suspect was only released from prison on December 12 for a racist attack carried out last year.”

It was just over a year ago – on December 7 2021 – that a man went on the rampage in a refugee camp in Paris.

“He used a sabre to slice two men, and damage six tents at a camp in the Bercy park in the 12th arrondissement of Paris,” said the source.

“He was wounded when one of the refugees was disarming him. Two Sudanese refugees were badly wounded in the attack.”

Officials confirmed the assailant worked for the French national railway company, saying: “He is a French national who was with SNCF for many years.

“He was arrested at the scene, and is cooperating with the authorities. He is now under investigation for murder and aggravated violence.”


The Paris prosecutor’s office has opened a murder investigation.

It also said the suspect had a prior police record, including an arrest for attacking migrants living in tents, and that investigators are considering a possible racist motive for the shooting.

"A gun attack has taken place. Thank you to the security forces for their swift action," tweeted deputy Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire.

"Thoughts for the victims and those who witnessed this drama."

Police have taped off the area in the 10th arrondissement of the French capital, with people warned to stay away.

Interior minister, Gerald Darmanin visited the scene of the incident. Mr Darmanin said the gunman had clearly wanted to target foreigners, but there was no evidence yet that he had targeted Kurds specifically.

Kurdish leaders have called for better protection for their community in the wake of the killings.


It follows a series of shootings and stabbings in the city dating back to 2015, all of them linked to terrorism.

The deadliest single terrorist attack ever in the country came in November 2015 when 130 people were killed at a number of venues.

Suicide bombers pledging allegiance to ISIS targeted the Stade de France, cafes, restaurants and the Bataclan music venue, where 90 died.

Protestors clash with French riot police officers following a statement by French Interior Minister at the site

Earlier in the year, two Paris-born gunmen linked to Al-Qaeda broke into the offices of the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine, leaving 17 people dead inside and three outside

In July 2016, 86 people were called and more than 400 injured when a 19 tonne truck was deliberately driven into crowds on the seafront promenade at Nice, which is just 20 miles from Cannes.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
British Labour Government Utilizes Counter-Terrorism Tools for Social Media Monitoring Against Legitimate Critics
OpenAI Launches GPT‑5, Its Most Advanced AI Model Yet
Brazilian President Lula says he’ll contact the leaders of BRICS states to propose a unified response to U.S. tariffs
US envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow to seek a breakthrough in the Ukraine war ahead of President Trump’s peace deadline
WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Scam Accounts Amid Rising Global Fraud
Britain's Online Safety Law Sparks Outcry Over Privacy, Free Speech, and Mass Surveillance
Nine people have been hospitalized and dozens of salmonella cases have been reported after an outbreak of infections linked to certain brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada
Karol Nawrocki Inaugurated as Poland’s President, Setting Stage for Clash with Tusk Government
US Charges Two Chinese Nationals for Illegal Nvidia AI Chip Exports
Texas Residents Face Water Restrictions While AI Data Centers Consume Millions of Gallons
U.S. Tariff Policy Triggers Market Volatility Amid Growing Global Trade Tensions
Tariffs, AI, and the Shifting U.S. Macro Landscape: Navigating a New Economic Regime
German Finance Minister Criticizes Trump’s Attacks on Institutions
India Rejects U.S. Tariff Threat, Defends Russian Oil Purchases
United States Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
Thousands of Private ChatGPT Conversations Accidentally Indexed by Google
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
OpenAI’s Bold Bet: Teaching AI to Think, Not Just Chat
U.S. Tariffs Surge to Highest Levels in Nearly a Century Under Second Trump Term
Ong Beng Seng Pleads Guilty in Corruption Case Linked to Former Singapore Transport Minister
BP’s Largest Oil and Gas Find in 25 Years Uncovered Offshore Brazil
Italy Fines Shein One Million Euros for Misleading Sustainability Claims
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
Declassified Annex Links Soros‑Affiliated Officials and Clinton Campaign to ‘Russiagate’ Narrative
UK's Online Safety Law: A Front for Censorship
Parents Abandon Child at Barcelona Airport Over Passport Issue
Bus Driver Discovers Toddler Hidden in Suitcase in New Zealand
Switzerland Celebrates 734 Years of Independence Amid Global Changes
China Enforces Comprehensive Ban on Cryptocurrency Activities
Grok 4 Video plus Voice, can identify wildlife!
George Soros tells the World Economic Forum: "President Trump is a con man and the ultimate narcissist, who wants the world to revolve around him."
Hamas are STARVING the hostages.
The UK Does Not Have a ‘Far-Right’ Problem
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
JD Vance Warns Europe Faces “Civilizational Suicide” Over Open Borders and Speech Limits
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
Trump Administration Finalizes Broad Tariff Increases on Global Trade Partners
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
Intel Reports Revenue Beats but Sees 81% Rise in Losses
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
×