In a recent incident at the Bibliotheque Francois Mitterrand station in Paris, a 38-year-old veiled woman was shot and seriously wounded by the police.
Eyewitnesses reported that the woman, who had her face completely covered, shouted “Allahu akbar” (“God is Greatest”) and made threats, leading to concerns for public safety.
Passengers on a suburban train from the eastern suburbs of Paris alerted the authorities, leading to the evacuation of the station. The woman, who refused to comply with police instructions and threatened to detonate an explosive device, was ultimately shot by two police officers.
The officers fired eight rounds, resulting in a life-threatening injury to her abdomen. No explosives or weapons were found on her, and she was subsequently transported to a hospital.
Two investigations have been initiated in the aftermath of this incident. One investigation will focus on the woman’s actions, while the other will assess whether the police’s use of firearms was justified.
Government spokesperson Olivier Veran stated that there had been multiple calls from passengers to the rail operator SNCF, prompting the police to evaluate the situation as dangerous and open fire. Veran also mentioned that the woman had a prior conviction for threatening patrolling soldiers, and there were concerns about her mental health.
Footage from the officers’ body cameras and CCTV at the station will be crucial in establishing the precise details of the case, Veran added. He also mentioned that the woman had been placed on a radicalization watchlist at one point, though it remains uncertain if her name is still on that list.
France has been on high alert since October 13, following the stabbing of a teacher in Arras by an Islamist former pupil. This incident has raised concerns in a country with significant Muslim and Jewish populations, compounded by the recent conflict between Hamas and Israel and related bomb threats leading to evacuations at various locations, including airports, train stations, and tourist sites.
On Monday, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin revealed that there had been 819 anti-Semitic acts in France since October 7, resulting in 414 arrests.
