Paris knife attack: Man stabs 3 women, cites Allah; Berlin van ramming kills 1
Synopsis
Two major attacks in 48 hours — a knife assault in Paris where the suspect invoked Allah, and a van ramming near Berlin's Tiergarten that killed one woman and injured 29 — have put European security forces on high alert. Both cases are under terrorism-related scrutiny, raising urgent questions about radicalisation and public safety across the continent.
Key Takeaways
A man armed with two kitchen knives stabbed three women in northwestern Paris on 28 July at around 11:30 am local time .
Two victims are in critical condition ; the suspect was arrested by an off-duty police officer at the scene.
The suspect was heard saying 'It is Allah who commanded me' while being restrained, according to videos on social media.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez urged caution on motives; PNAT is monitoring the case.
The attack followed a van ramming near Berlin's Tiergarten on 26 July that killed one woman and injured 29 ; the Berlin suspect was shot dead by police.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described the Berlin incident as a suspected 'Islamist terrorist attack.'
Three women were stabbed in a knife attack in northwestern Paris on Monday, 28 July, at approximately 11:30 am local time, as a man armed with two kitchen knives attacked passersby on the street. Two of the victims are in critical condition, while the suspect was apprehended at the scene by an off-duty police officer.
What Happened at the Scene
The attacker targeted pedestrians in a northwestern Paris neighbourhood in what witnesses described as a sudden and unprovoked assault. Videos circulating on social media showed the suspect being restrained on the ground, during which he was heard saying, 'It is Allah who commanded me.' Authorities have not yet verified the suspect's identity, with French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez noting that the man had provided 'only a self-reported identity' and was making 'incoherent statements' at the time of arrest.
Official Response and Investigation
Minister Nunez urged 'great caution regarding the motives behind this extremely violent act,' signalling that investigators are not yet drawing firm conclusions. France's National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office (PNAT) is monitoring the situation, according to reports, a standard procedure when a potential ideological motive cannot be immediately ruled out. No formal terrorism designation has been announced as of the time of reporting.
Context: A Day After the Berlin Attack
The Paris stabbing came just one day after a deadly vehicle-ramming and stabbing attack near Berlin's Tiergarten park on Saturday, 26 July. In that incident, a van was driven into a crowd near the site of the city's Christopher Street Day pride parade, after which the driver attacked bystanders with what was believed to be a machete, leaving one woman dead and 29 others injured. The Berlin suspect was shot dead by police on Sunday evening after he reportedly ran toward officers with a stabbing weapon in the Spandau district. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt had earlier described the Berlin incident as a suspected 'Islamist terrorist attack.'
Broader Pattern of Concern
The two incidents within 48 hours across two major European capitals have heightened security concerns across the continent. France has long maintained an elevated terrorism threat level, particularly in Paris, and has experienced multiple knife and vehicle attacks over the past decade. Notably, the PNAT's involvement in monitoring the Paris case — even before a formal designation — reflects the institutional vigilance France has built following past attacks. The recurrence of such incidents in quick succession is expected to intensify political debate around public security and radicalisation in Western Europe.
What Comes Next
French investigators are working to establish the suspect's identity and determine whether the attack has any organisational links or was carried out by a lone individual. The PNAT will decide whether to formally open a terrorism investigation. Meanwhile, security deployments in Paris are expected to be reviewed, particularly given ongoing large public events in the city.
Point of View
And a deliberate call for 'great caution' on motive — suggesting investigators are wary of premature conclusions even as the suspect's own words on video are unambiguous. The Berlin attack, already labelled a suspected Islamist terrorist act by Germany's interior minister, sets a contrasting tone. The pattern raises a harder question: whether Europe's security architecture, built around detecting organised networks, is adequately calibrated for lone-actor, low-tech violence that requires no planning infrastructure to execute.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Paris knife attack on 28 July?
A man armed with two kitchen knives attacked passersby in northwestern Paris on 28 July at around 11:30 am local time, stabbing three women. Two victims are in critical condition and the suspect was arrested at the scene by an off-duty police officer.
What did the Paris attacker say after being arrested?
Videos circulating on social media showed the suspect, while being restrained on the ground, saying 'It is Allah who commanded me.' French authorities have urged caution about drawing conclusions on motive while the investigation continues.
Is France treating the Paris stabbing as a terrorist attack?
As of the time of reporting, no formal terrorism designation has been made. France's National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office (PNAT) is monitoring the situation, which is standard procedure when an ideological motive cannot be immediately ruled out.
What was the Berlin attack that preceded the Paris stabbing?
On Saturday, 26 July, a van was driven into a crowd near Berlin's Tiergarten park, close to the Christopher Street Day pride parade site. The driver then attacked bystanders with what was believed to be a machete, killing one woman and injuring 29 others. The suspect was shot dead by police on Sunday evening.
How are European authorities responding to these back-to-back attacks?
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described the Berlin incident as a suspected Islamist terrorist attack. In France, the PNAT is monitoring the Paris case while investigators work to establish the suspect's identity and any potential links to extremist networks.
