Police in Paris wound knife-wielding man at Montparnasse train station

Police in Paris shot and wounded a knife-wielding man at the busy Montparnasse train station on Friday, according to the city’s prosecutor’s office, in an incident that briefly disrupted operations at one of the capital’s major transportation hubs.

The man, who authorities identified as someone with a history of domestic violence, was shot after confronting officers with a knife. Following the shooting, the man reportedly inflicted additional knife wounds on himself, prompting emergency services to rush to the scene.

A 53-year-old bystander was caught in the crossfire, suffering a gunshot wound to the foot. Medical personnel treated both the wounded suspect and the injured bystander at the scene before they were transported to local hospitals. Their current conditions have not been disclosed.

Authorities were quick to emphasize that the incident does not appear to be terrorism-related. This clarification comes amid heightened security awareness in the French capital, particularly as the incident occurred just one day after France marked the solemn 10th anniversary of the November 13, 2015 coordinated terrorist attacks that claimed 132 lives across Paris.

The French national rail operator SNCF implemented a security perimeter around a portion of the station following the police intervention. A spokesperson for SNCF told The Associated Press that train service experienced only minor disruptions while authorities secured the area and conducted their initial investigation.

Montparnasse station, located in the 14th arrondissement of Paris, serves as a major transportation hub connecting the capital to western and southwestern France. The station handles approximately 50 million passengers annually, making it one of the busiest railway terminals in Europe.

This incident comes amid ongoing concerns about public safety in France, where authorities have maintained elevated security measures since the wave of terrorist attacks that began in 2015. While officials have stressed this particular case appears unrelated to terrorism, it highlights the challenges faced by security forces in busy public spaces.

The Paris prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting. As is standard procedure in France when law enforcement officers discharge their weapons, the police officer involved will likely face review by the Inspection Générale de la Police Nationale (IGPN), the country’s police oversight body.

Knife attacks have remained a persistent security concern across France in recent years. Just last month, French authorities arrested several individuals in connection with a plot to carry out knife attacks in public places, further elevating vigilance among security personnel in transit hubs and crowded areas.

Witnesses at the station described moments of panic as the incident unfolded, with many travelers evacuated from the immediate area while police secured the scene. Social media quickly filled with images and videos of police cordons and emergency vehicles outside the station.

City officials have urged the public to remain vigilant but calm, emphasizing that regular operations have largely resumed at the station following the brief disruption. The section of the station affected by the security perimeter has since been reopened to travelers.

As the investigation continues, authorities are expected to review security camera footage from the station to better understand the sequence of events leading up to the confrontation between the suspect and police officers.