Three women stabbed in Paris; suspect reportedly says 'Allah commanded me'

Authorities have not confirmed whether the statement is linked to the motive behind the attack. Representational Pic

Three people were injured in a knife attack in Paris on Monday, with a male suspect arrested shortly after the incident, authorities said.

The attack took place at around 11:30 am local time in northwestern Paris, where a man allegedly armed with two kitchen knives targeted pedestrians on a street. All three victims were taken for medical treatment, while two were said to be in critical condition, according to Xinhua, citing French media reports.

Suspect detained at scene

The suspect was apprehended by an off-duty police officer shortly after the attack, reported IANS.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the man had provided "only a self-reported identity" and was making "incoherent statements."

Nunez urged "great caution regarding the motives behind this extremely violent act."

Anti-terror prosecutors monitoring investigation

France's National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office (PNAT) is monitoring the case, according to media reports, although authorities have not yet confirmed a terrorist motive.

Religious statement captured on video

Several videos of the incident have circulated on social media.

One video showed the suspect making a religious statement while being restrained by police.

"It is Allah who commanded me," the accused, lying on the ground, was heard saying in the video, reported IANS.

Authorities have not confirmed whether the statement is linked to the motive behind the attack.

Attack follows deadly incident in Germany

The Paris stabbing came just a day after another suspected Islamist attack in Germany that left one woman dead and 29 others injured, reported IANS.

On Saturday evening, a van was driven into a crowd near Berlin's Tiergarten Park. The driver then allegedly attacked passersby with what is believed to have been a machete. The incident occurred near the site of the city's Christopher Street Day Pride parade.

Berlin suspect shot dead by police

The suspect in the Berlin vehicle-ramming and stabbing attack was shot dead by police on Sunday evening, local authorities said.

Police said the suspect was located at around 6:00 pm (1600 GMT) in Berlin's Spandau district. According to preliminary findings, he ran towards police officers with a bladed weapon, prompting officers to open fire.

Earlier on Sunday, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the incident was suspected to be an "Islamist terrorist attack."

(With IANS inputs)