Two municipal police officers were injured Monday evening in a knife attack in central Toulouse, a major city in southern France. The officers were on routine patrol when they were assaulted by a passerby carrying multiple knives. Both sustained injuries but managed to subdue and arrest their attacker.
Toulouse Mayor Jean-Luc Moudenc reported that the suspect made statements of a terrorist nature during the incident. According to reports, the attacker shouted "Allahu Akbar" — Arabic for "God is great" — as he lunged at the officers. The two victims were transported to Toulouse-Rangueil University Hospital for medical treatment.
The male and female officers suffered wounds to their arms during the confrontation. Despite their injuries, they successfully neutralized the suspect using tear gas and took him into custody at the scene.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez expressed support for the security forces and stated that "investigations have been entrusted by the prosecution to the national police to determine the circumstances of the incident and the motives (...) of this attack."
The incident has sparked anger among right-wing political figures in France, who view it as illustrative of broader concerns about immigration and security. In response to the police statement about investigating motives, critics argued that "we don't need an investigation to know the 'motives,' they are very clear."
