Terrorist Attack in Paris Linked to the Islamic State

This photograph taken on December 3, 2023 shows flowers where a tourist was stabbed to death on the eve, near the Eiffel Tower (background), in Paris.
DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP via Getty Images

Terrorist Attack in Paris Linked to the Islamic State

A man armed with a knife and hammer killed a tourist and wounded two others near the Eiffel Tower in Paris late Saturday night. Just prior to the attack, the man pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in a video posted on social media.

The attacker, Armand Rajabpour-Miyandoab, is a 26-year-old French national born to two Iranian parents. He told police he was angry about the Gaza conflict and that “so many Muslims are dying in Afghanistan and in Palestine,” French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said.

More targets: After fatally stabbing a German-Filipino tourist and yelling, “Allahu akbar!” Armand fled as police chased him across a bridge over the Seine River. He then used a hammer to attack two more people, a Frenchman and a British tourist, before he was struck down with a Taser and arrested.

In 2016, Armand was sentenced to four years in prison for attempting a terrorist attack. He was under surveillance by the French security services and was known to have mental disorders.

Why terror? Europe is at high risk for terrorist attacks. The response from Muslim immigrants to the Israel-Hamas war is waking some up to the danger in their midst.

We have long forecast a clash between Europe and the Muslim world. This clash is building now. To understand why, read our Trends article “Why the Trumpet Watches Iran and Europe Heading for a Clash of Civilizations.”