Soldier injured at Paris Gare de l'Est
In a few days, the Olympic Games are set to begin in Paris, the security situation is tense. At Gare d l'Est, a knife attacker injured an Anti-Terror soldier at the shoulder. A suspect has been arrested.
Approximately two weeks before the Olympic Games were due to begin in Paris, a soldier deployed for anti-terrorism protection was injured in a knife attack at Gare d l'Est railway station. The soldier, who was part of the Sentinelle anti-terror unit, sustained a shoulder wound but was not in danger, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announced in the evening. The attacker was apprehended.
According to BFMTV, the soldier was injured at the shoulder. The motive behind the attack is unclear. Currently, France is under the highest terror alert level. Soldiers of Operation Sentinelle, armed with assault rifles, are deployed in Paris and other locations to counter threats such as terrorism. The heavily armed soldiers have been a feature of Paris' cityscape since 2015, following the Charlie Hebdo attack.
Frequent knife attacks at Parisian train stations
In the run-up to the Olympics, which begin on July 26, police and military presence in Paris has been significantly increased. Police and military personnel are also on duty outside the city center. Gare de l'Est is one of Paris' major railway stations. Trains from Germany, including those from Stuttgart and Frankfurt, arrive here.
Knife attacks at Parisian train stations are not uncommon. Such incidents frequently occur, but they usually have no terrorist background. Most recently, in early February, a mentally disturbed man injured three people with a knife at Gare de Lyon. Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu expressed his sympathy to the soldier. "Support and recognition for our armed forces, who are more committed than ever to ensuring the safety of the French," the Minister wrote on X.
Despite heightened security measures due to the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris, terror threats remain a concern. Germany, historically an ally of France, has expressed solidarity in the face of the 'Terror in France'. International organizations have acknowledged France's efforts to maintain peace and security during this period.
