A man armed with three knives injured two municipal police officers in central Toulouse on Monday afternoon during a street attack. The incident occurred shortly before 6:00 p.m. on Rue d'Austerlitz, near Wilson Square, when a patrol of three municipal officers spotted an agitated man approaching their vehicle.
The suspect attempted to strike one of the officers with a knife as he approached the vehicle. The officers exited their car and attempted to restrain him to protect bystanders on the street. The arrest proved difficult, as police found two additional knives on the suspect after seizing the first weapon, according to news outlet La Dépêche.
Officer injuries and arrest details
Two of the three officers, including a female officer, sustained minor injuries in the struggle and were taken to Rangueil hospital. One officer received a blow to the neck very close to the carotid artery, while the knife tore through the female officer's bulletproof vest at rib height. Both officers received stitches and were discharged by Tuesday, while the third officer was unhurt.
Toulouse deputy mayor for security Émilion Esnault said officers came within two fingers of a fatal outcome when describing the danger of the event. Esnault and witnesses reported that the suspect repeatedly shouted Allahu Akbar during the attack. Bystander video showed officers wrestling the man on a narrow sidewalk, using pepper spray to force him to the ground.
Psychiatric evaluation and official response
French authorities have not classified the incident as a terrorist attack, with investigators working to establish the suspect's motives and verify the reported statements. The Toulouse prosecutor's office opened an investigation into attempted murder of persons holding public authority. French police took charge of the investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the assault.
Following his arrest, a doctor determined that the suspect's mental state was incompatible with police custody. Authorities lifted his custody on Tuesday morning and transferred him to the psychiatric emergency unit at Purpan hospital. Police took fingerprints and DNA samples, but his identity remained unconfirmed by Tuesday afternoon.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez expressed his support on Tuesday for the officers who courageously arrested the attacker. Nuñez also offered support to Toulouse Mayor Jean Luc Moudenc after municipal teams were hurt in the line of duty.
