This article was originally published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and is reprinted with permission.
French police have detained a man believed to be an Afghan national after seven people were injured in a knife attack in downtown Paris, judicial sources told news agencies and local media.
Police officials confirmed the attack, but did not provide information on the suspect and said that terrorism was not suspected.
Sources close to the investigation told local media early on September 10 that the attack took place late the night before near a cinema.
At least four of the victims suffered severe wounds, the sources said.
Two of the wounded were British tourists, but the severity of their injuries was not immediately known.
Police and other sources said the man was armed with a knife and an iron bar.
A security guard at a cinemas near the Canal de l’Ourcq told AFP he spotted a man who had assaulted people being chased by two other men attempting to stop him.
“He had an iron bar in his hand that he threw at the men chasing him, then he took out a knife,” the guard said.
A police investigation has been launched for attempted murder, a judicial source said.
