Police officers in front of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris (symbolic image).Image: keystone
Feb 13, 2026, 8:24 p.mFeb 13, 2026, 8:24 p.m
A man armed with a knife attacked a gendarme at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The anti-terrorism public prosecutor’s office took over the investigation, the authority announced. According to the police, the attacker was shot. A spokesman for the gendarmerie was initially unable to say anything about the background to the incident early in the evening.
France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez spoke of an attempted attack during preparations to light the so-called Eternal Flame. This flame below the triumphal arch commemorates deceased soldiers. According to Nuñez, the man tried to attack someone from the gendarmerie band. The reason for this is not yet known. A gendarme then used his weapon, which seemed to him to be in accordance with the rules.
According to the Interior Minister, the attacker is in a serious condition. According to the newspaper “Le Parisien”, his life is in danger. The gendarme is not said to be injured, the broadcaster BFMTV reported, citing sources.
In contrast to police officers, gendarmes are formally part of the French army. As security forces, the police and gendarmerie have different areas of responsibility. (sda/dpa)